she is a terrible patient. so am i. irresponsible recuperators we are. there is so much to do, to see, to photograph, to plant, to post, to read, to comment upon. it only hurts a bit. even if it hurts a lot i forget about the pain when busy.
c'mon coach, put me back in the game. it's only a simple fracture. there's no bone sticking out. i'm barely bleeding, and it's not arterial.
Wow. What a beauty that last one is. The heron, too.
Are you icing? Heating?
If you don't take pain meds, how about a half a bottle of wine?
Hope it feels better soon.
Hmm. Hope you feel better soon. Wine and herbal heating pad works for me most of time. I have broken down and taken Motrin when I couldn't afford not to sleep - like when my kids were little and I had to carry them around.
But your photos are making me feel better today . . .
BTW, what's a "life book"?
kathyr-- Wine helps everything. I am a committed devotee.
Last night we had a Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignon that was so rich and oaky. Delicious. Had a bottle of the same vintage last week on our anniversary and it was really tinny and awful. I wrote Ravenswood and told them about it. They shipped us a new bottle. Wow. Was it good. Took the pain away for about an hour, but what an hour that was!
soccermom--I'm definitely doing heat and ice. I like the heat where there is referred pain (down my back and left arm). The ice I do sparingly on my neck. That really helps.
The life list is a list of the birds you have actually seen. I think some people even include the birds they have heard on their list .
Sorry to hear about your very sore neck, RD. Would gentle massage help at all? Good that you were able to get out. Those Port Townsend pics brought back memories of trips we've taken up there.
As I ran back home, along Green Lake herer in Seattle, I saw a great blue heron glide imperially down to the surface of the lake, then veer off, skimming the surface; maybe looking for fish?
We see them sometimes perched high above the water lily pond in the Rose Garden up by the zoo, evidently waiting for the goldfish sushi bar to open!
Beauty may just start some kind of cascading effect in your system, particularly if you believe in it. Wine is good, too.
Does beauty have healing power?
Yes, though it's not always immediately obvious what is being healed.
Those Hooded Mergansers are beautiful birds. Of course, I always enjoy seeing the Blue Heron, too. That sun picture is most amazing! WOW!!! Yes, I think nature beauty heals. As handdrummer said, "it is not alway immediately obvious..." How true!
RD & DPR - Perhaps I could make an argument for aspirin and codeine together for cervical spondylosis.
They're not drugs - they're natural!
One from the willow, the other from the poppy.
You two post some great shots of birds with fine resolution at a distance. I'm wondering what camera you use, and which lens you attach to it?
hope you are feeling fine again soon-like.
the butterscotch sunrise photo is stunning. nice song to have stuck in your head, too!
Isabelita-- I had a massage on Saturday. It really did help. I think I just overdid it yesterday. I probably have some degenerative arthritis that has been exacerbated by some extension and motion problems.
When you and the Mr. head out to the peninsula you should email us, we'll meet you somewhere and show you our favorite birdwatching sites.
Handrummer-- I think you are right about that. I actually believe that there are many things that effect us on sub-conscious levels. Beauty is one of them.
OWL-- I was hoping the sunrise would show up. It was quite a sight the way the fog lit up with the sun's light.
Tjilpi-- Thank you so much for stopping by. I mostly don't take pain killers, but if this pain persists much longer I might consider some anti-inflamatory.
We are using a Panasonic DMC FZ20. It has a built in Leica lens with a 12X optical zoom (35 mm equilavent 36-432). It does let us get pretty close to the birds. It also has an optical zoom of 48X.
Annie-- I think the pain is starting to diminish. Thanks much for your well wishes.
I hope you feel better soon. I've never seen anything like a real merganser - just drawings - so seeing pictures of one was really interesting. They are beautiful birds.
Your blog has healing power. I'm a total junkie. These photos are beautiful. Sorry about the neck-yes, wine!
Good night.
RD - Thanks for the info on the camera. I've already Googled a few sites which review it. I used to have a 400mm telescopic reflector attached to my 35mm SLR but was never happy with the results. Lately I've taken to recording bird sounds rather than photographing birds. Recording certainly tweaks up your ability to recognize birds even if you can't see them. Now I do most of my bird listening from inside the house!! My brother is an avid watcher. He has logged over 400 of the 700 Australian species. I was glad you put up pictures of red winged black birds. OWL mentioned them in a comment on Pablo's site and I wondered what they were. Next day you showed me. Now you'll have a stiff neck from reading such a long comment! Cheers.
I am sorry about your pain. I live with it everyday, and - like you - I dislike medication. My doctor told me to take it anyway. He said if I don't, I am impeding the healing. My brain is forced to continually produce endorphins, to which, over time, I will become immune. Now - I still don't like medication - and am sparing with it - but I do take some when the pain get in the way of my life.
As for the healing power of beauty - I do think beauty helps, if only to distract. If I had my druthers, I would always pick outside as opposed to in. Look at all the wonderful birds you have to enjoy! Here’s hoping you get better soon.
have you heard of a book called
*healing back pain* by dr john sarno?
(he covers neck pain as well) it helped me a lot, but you have to keep an open mind. hope your feeling better soon.
Very sorry to hear about your neck, RD. I hope it heals soon. A friend of mine has regular acupuncture to help him with the pain from his headaches. I've never tried acupuncture myself but he swears by it.
Mergansers are lovely and so funny with their bubbleheads.
No comment about the pain other than, Been there, Done that.
Great bird shots! I like both species a lot.
Best shot of the day is your sunrise. We've not had any great ones lately due to heavy clouds. Maybe today?
I'd heard of a study from some years back that seemed to find a connection between being surrounded by beauty -- art, music, and even beautiful people -- and the release of endorphins in the human body. It seems we are attracted to beautiful things for a reason. So, sure, maybe the wonderful things you find around you can help you feel better. And perhaps knowing that all of your friends in cyberspace are wishing you well will help with the healing as well.
Thank you for your comment,il gives pleasure. I like on your blog today photograph of duck and the reflections in water which make lines in Z. The third photograph,du sky, is very astonishing.
Afarensis-- Yeah, I'm a big fan of Mergansers. There's just something about that head I really like! I'm feeling better today. Yay!
YT-- So glad you like the photos. I really like taking them. I want the world to be beautiful, so I go and see what beauty there is to be seen.
Tjilpi-- There are some great birdwatching sites. And there's a bi-weekly carnival called I and the Bird, a compilation of birding blog posts. There's one being posted tomorrow at Living the Scientific Life. Check out the link on our blogroll.
TFLS-- I'm actually starting to feel better. I'm going to lay low for a few more days, but my neck has finally stopped sending waves of pain down my back and arm. Life is so good again, I can hardly believe it.
Kara-- Thanks for stopping by and the book recommendation. I will definitely take a look. I've had back and neck problems for years.
Sara-- Thanks for the well-wishes. I've actually thought about acupuncture, but have often had the pain subside before I've worked up the courage to go.
OW-- Glad you liked that sunrise shot. I couldn't believe how the fog was shooting out from behind the tree with those long wispy fingers, and how the sun just lit it all on fire. I was delighted.
pablo-- I'm feeling better. Yippee. I do agree that there are many things that influence healing. I'm certain that beauty is one, and the kindness of friends in cyberspace is another.
Thanks everyone!
holy sunrise, batman! That sunrise shot is trippy, mystical even. Of course beauty has healing powers, silly girl. Often, your photos heal me, if not my body then certainly my spirit.
Just another latecomer wishing you a rapid and full recovery. Thanks for the beautiful photos! That sunrise is breathtaking!
RD, so sorry you've been hurting, but I'm happy you're better. I hope you're all better soon.
Is that Hooded Merganser a duck? If it is, it's a different looking duck; its plumage is striking, especially with the reflection in the water in the first photo.
Jean-- Your photography is so incredible, so any compliment from you just knocks me out! Thank you.
SMSS-- I couldn't believe that sunrise. That photo is completely untouched. Imagine that. No heightened contrast or light changes. It was breathtaking. I was mostly asking the healing question rhetorically. I'm bad that way!
Phantom-- I'm feeling better today. Can't do too much, though. Thanks for your kind wishes.
janeboatler-- Yes, it's a duck. Here's what I found about the Hooded Merganser:
A small fish-eating duck of wooded ponds, the Hooded Merganser nests in holes in trees. It is frequently seen on shallow waters where its only waterfowl companion is the Wood Duck.
Isn't it a great looking creature?
Hope you feel better soon!
Everything I wanted to say has been taken by your numerous admirers, leaving me only to add my good wishes that your neck feels better soon, and my admiration for your stoicism. (I'm popping advil at the first twinge.)
Stunning photos, especially the sunrise one. I do hope your neck feels pain-free soon.
Hope you're feeling better by now, but I agree, getting out into the world of nature has always had a healing effect on me. That sun photo is absolutely beautiful.
Great pictures!
ah, the hooded merganser photos are so wonderful. great to see the action in the wings. good job.
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