Menopause came knocking again.
I told her I was busy.
She promised not to stay,
but she took a chair and plopped her plump rump right down.
So, I let her know. I couldn’t entertain her. I had no time today.
I cleared the table, swept the floor, even exercised, planking my plank.
She insisted, however, said she’d brought me something,
and she handed me stomach and headache as I showered and readied for the day.
In light-headed confusion, I walked and shopped with her. Had there been any choice?
We found groceries and teacher supplies, but pain now throbbed my temples, behind my eyes, flashed feverish heat through my body. On repeat, this gift from her, over and over again.
Finally, the rain subsided and in that drizzle I told her, “you stay here now, I know the way,"
Instead she followed me back home. Has she set up residence?
"Celebrate menopause," I've heard some say.
But, she’s an unwanted guest at my house these days.
What will surely happen one of these days to me if Menopause doesn't take a hike.
The Cathedral on our left and precious baa baa black sheep on our right, a typical late afternoon crossing. Though the days have warmed, the ice warning next to the bridge is a reminder that these fields were covered with white not long ago.
A chestnut tree frames Astorga's Cathedral as I looked southwest from the hills of San Román de la Vega.
A white head shows us that this pair is incubating their eggs. Storks are very egalitarian. They share the task of keeping their eggs warm, the female in the morning and the male at night. They take turns bringing meals to one another. Storks mate for life.
This giant chestnut tree captured my entire imagination, so perfectly and intricately shaped. Even Sombra had to stop and stare.
An old home about to be restored, beginning with its roof. Maybe the owners will decide to keep the original beams and rod iron for a rustic traditional look.
This newborn colt was so new to the world that he wobbled on his legs and almost fell over in his attempt to look at me taking his picture.
Returning to Astorga, to the work at our desks and other responsibilities. What a nice break to get away for a little bit of countryside photography.
If you're going to spend hours of layover time, you've got to check out the airport details and decore.
Here are my tips on what to see if you're in the Sacramento, LAX or the Madrid International Airports.
Couldn't resist getting my picture taken in front of this sign. Twenty-three or twenty-four hours of traveling will do strange things to you.
Sacramento Airport
While I drank my short latte (thanks Sara for the tip on how to get the closest thing to Spanish café con leche) I was so surprised to see airport police patrolling on bikes (sorry, no picture,) riding up and parking for a coffee and danish. That's a first!
One of my favourite decorative details at the Sacramento airport is the river-tiled flooring that weaves just like River City's Sacramento and American Rivers.
Sculptures abound in the wide open spaces of American airports. "Leap" is a giant 56-foot-long, 15-foot diameter red rabbit made of steel and aluminum by Denver artist Lawrence Argent that hangs over the escalator leading to the baggage claim.
Samson, a two tower suitcase stack by artist Brian Goggin, in the old Terminal A waits below.
But, LAX's art and interior is amazing, beginning with the musical spindles that turn playing music from different corners of the world as they change designs to match the country.
LAX Bradley International Airport. Spent a six-hour layover alongside the Clock Tower, that was a clock only some alternating minutes of the day.
The other time it displayed other scenes, stacked suitcases (an original theme in Sacramento), Japanese village, Buzz Busby synchronised dancers on different cake layers, jelly-fish and mata rays, London's big Ben.
Finally, the best, an underwater scene in which a young maiden clad in white linen victorian dress falls to the depths of the sea only to transform into a mermaid to whom an admirer atop a surfboard casts flowers tied to a conch shell.
Last and longest leg, LAX, Dallas, then Madrid. It was a great flight because I didn't have to think about my big suitcase at any point along the way.
Finally home - Barajas, Madrid International
I'm sure now that I've written this post I'll come across many more examples of Airport Art. Here's an amazing one called "Kinetic Rain" at the Singapore Airport I'll probably never see, but will live vicariously through this video.
