Day 1334: What to say, what to do?

I spent another four hours on the Quest video, adding stills, titles and Go-pro footage for the one and two day hikes.  We've never included the first two hikes in the video, but we calculated that this one will be more of a recruiting tool than past videos.  Since we're hoping to increase numbers in our partner schools, the video will play a very important role.  The updated iMovie program on my new computer is actually easier to use and has a few new features to improve the quality of the finished product.  Tomorrow, I hope to make more progress, but also get back in the pool.

The day was very cool and dark, so I didn't swim again. The pool lost 8 degrees and is down to 76.  That wouldn't be an issue if the air was warmer, but I just wasn't up to the battle.  Warmth returns tomorrow and promises to stay for at least a week.  The first day of school will be in the mid 80s, of course.  Everyone will be miserable in stifling classrooms, new clothes and real shoes.

Steve spent the morning at a musical meeting with all the directors and the afternoon at an accident.  A tank truck carrying 65,000 pounds of milk went off a road and flipped over into a creek.  The driver was fortunate to escape before the cab filled with water.  They couldn't remove the milk, because the valve at the top was buried in mud.  The DEC spill team was on site to monitor the clean up and prevent any milk from entering the stream so it would not kill all the fish and wildlife.  It took about five hours to right the truck.

Steve was moving firewood into the basement when another chipmunk decided to have an adventure.  I hauled Paddy out of his chair but he was no help at all.  I spotted it darting into the sump pump room, but then it disappeared.  I built a little wall of stuff around the entrance to direct it back toward the outside cellar stairs and Steve rattled firewood to chase it out.  Finally, it ran right out and I slammed the door.  The next trick was to get it out of the bilko.  I kept throwing a plastic bucket down the stairs to scare it and finally, it leaped up the stairs and took off with Molly following close behind.

Then, news came.  And it wasn't good.  The spot is larger than originally thought and she needs more biopsies.  How do we comfort and guide a loved one who is terrified when we're frightened too?  What do we say to assure her?  What can we do to help?  We've been down this road before with other family members and it's so, so hard.

Lunch on the two day hike

A sunny day and lots of happy hikers!