This is a Reposting from Longs Peak Journal:

Some Post-Birthday Thoughts on Isolation and Re-Opening

Many of the blogs that I follow have focussed on our recent Isolation via the ‘stay home’ policy.  I’ve had my ups and downs with working from home and social distancing, but I have not been seriously depressed or anxious about the future.  I have strong contacts on social media with friends that live in other states, am using FaceBook and texting more and yes, there is that old school thing, you know, the Telephone Call….And my neighbors have a Wednesday evening Happy Hour, where we spend 90 minutes or so at the appropriate social distance drinking beer or wine (we bring our own).  I have to say, I have wonderful neighbors.

I also have a lot (more than I sometimes can stand) of teleconferencing for work.  And I did have to get used to my husband working from home in the next room.  But I’ve settled in now…….I’ve established a routine that is enriched by vocal music lessons, which I do on Zoom, starting my gardening and my photography, of course.  I’m changing my own artistic direction (visit My Inner Monet) and involved with some on-line photo groups like The Frugal Film Project.

So I’ve kept ‘Isolation’ in check by actually reaching out and staying in touch with people.  Now for the Re-Opening…….First, I’ve been through so much over the past decade; survived some real life threatening situations.  The LAST thing I am willing to do is take any risk that could lead to COVID-19.  I am also facing eye surgery to correct for damage cause by my brain tumor.  I’m not participating in the Re-Opening until my vision problems are resolved.  I don’t want to risk any type of infection that could postpone my surgery.  I leave the house to walk the dog, go to Dr’s appointments, do photography, and see (yes actually visit) a few friends at the proper social distance.  And my employer seems to be in no rush to get us back into the office.

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Lomochrome Purple Mamiya-7

I am uploading my roll of @OldSchoolLabs scans for further consideration.  The first 2 images were taken on the same day in my back yard;  sun behind me and filtered through tree leaves (I’ll need to correct that in the article). I win’t be able to reproduce the Blue result before June 2020 when I will have green vegetation again.

All of the remaining images were taken the next day on June 29, 2019 along the Peak to Peak Highway, Colorado.  The differences are due to the position of the Sun.  Images #3 & 4, Sun behind me, diffuse, cloudy sky; Images #5-6-7, Facing into the Sun,  Images #8-9-10, Sun over my left shoulder.

My point is that the sun position makes a big difference for Lomochrome Purple results.  If you read this and have any comments, I’ll send you a roll of Lomochrome Purple.  Just send me your address through the Twitter messages.

Below:  I was asked to check for any significant differences in the negatives.  So here they are.  I did see differences in the negatives oft eh yellow-orange images.  There’s something different about the blue images, but hard to say.  my offer to share a few rolls of the Purple still stands…….

 

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When Life Throws a Curve

(follow the updates using the TAG:  “Through the Glass”)

From the vagaries and ups and downs of life.  I find myself recovering from surgery with time to reflect.  Another Intersection of Life and Art.

As you read this I am on my way to the Mayo Clinic, Phoenix Arizona for a Consultation.  But here is where The Story Begins:

On October 3, 2018, I was diagnosed with a “brain mass”.  Vision problems had sent me to the Ophthalmologist.  His testing and measurements of my left eye indicated something bad was going on behind that eye.  He sent me to the emergency room, calling ahead to discuss with the Dr. what tests would be appropriate.

 

(The Ambiguity of the Mirror from “The Artist’s Studio” symbolizes my Journey.  So it will be the featured Image for these medical update posts…….)

When I arrived, they were ready for me and ordered an MRI with contrast dye, no questions asked.  The diagnosis:  Brain tumor of unknown type growing behind my left eye; referral the the Neurosurgeons.

But, there is also a back story:  I am an 8-year breast cancer survivor.  So I also (and for the rest of my life)  have an Oncologist. He now enters the mix. His fear is a metastatic spread of my previous cancer, which would be a sure death sentence.

Weeks of testing:  Bone Scans, PET Scans, CT Scans…………All showing no breast cancer;  Dodged that bullet!  But I still have an unidentified tumor in my head that needs to be identified so the best treatment can be determined.  All non-invasive procedures exhausted, now it is time the the Neurosurgeons to perform a biopsy.

So how do they access that area behind the Eye?  By drilling holes through you sinuses.  The ENT Surgeon does that. I didn’t even get a black eye from this; but I do have a puffy face.  My worst bruise was from the arterial blood pressure tap-in.  Apparently when you have brain surgery, they tap an artery to have the most accurate blood pressure.

Biopsy Results:  I have a rare but treatable/survivable brain tumor (Which I will name and discuss later).  It is in effect a birth defect.  It was supposed to be reabsorbed as my little fetus grew, but it wasn’t.  And when that happens you have a little guy in your head that probably won’t be a problem unless you are 1 in a million me.

My Neurosurgeon removed what was safe to remove without doing harm.  It was affecting my optic nerve (first symptom), my Pituitary Gland and Carotid Artery (the brain’s source of blood).

Follow-up will require a unique radiation treatment only available in a few places.  So I have been referred to The Mayo Clinic in Phoenix AZ.

POSTSCRIPT: Ongoing, I will be taking a road trip to Phoenix (Dates TBD); loading up the 4Runner with my camera gear and film (bought for a cancelled trip to the Everglades).  Radiation I know will be 5 days a week for 8-10 weeks.  So I will be doing photography as I feel up to it and posting as I go.  Exploring Arizona for that time and keeping OldSchoolPhotoLabs very busy.

Ciao Baby!