Occupy Denver

As political activists Thebes and I were immediately interested in the Occupy Wallstreet movement. Last month we bought camping supplies and got donations from fellow Taosenos to bring up to the Occupy Denver protesters. That weekend they were having a march and we wanted to participate.

We drove up Friday night and got to Denver around midnight. While looking for a cheap hotel we drove by the protesters huddled together and some sleeping on the sidewalks. They looked cold so we decided to stop right there and donate our supplies. We had sleeping bags, wool blankets, a tent, warm clothes and emergency blankets. I handed a -20 degree sleeping bag to a young man and he started crying which made me cry. Then we both laughed and hugged. It felt so good to donate supplies.

Afterward we found our cheap hotel and settled in for the night. Since Thebes has Crohn’s we decided it was best not to camp out. The next morning we prepped for the march. Here’s me in the hotel before the march writing phone numbers on my leg in case I got arrested. You’re supposed to write numbers down where you can call for bail money and the local legal aid number.

Occupy Denver

The protesters were occupying a park near the Capital building. There were about 2,500 protesters in the march.

Occupy Denver

We marched through the financial district. People in high rises opened their windows and watched us. At one point we were walking down a sidewalk weaving in and out of weekend shoppers.

Occupy Denver

Thebes decided to document the event so didn’t dress up. He put up a Flickr page for his pics.

Occupy Denver

I on the other hand went in full costume as Lady Liberty. My outfit was quite the hit and lots of protesters wanted to take my picture.

Occupy Denver

Thebes came up with the slogan for the back of the sign.

Occupy Denver

There were several sculptures in the downtown area that I found inspiring. Here’s one that reminds me of a flower:

Occupy Denver

This Black Block Anarchist climbed up a ton of stuff to give marchers the fist of solidarity.

Occupy Denver

I wasn’t the only one in costume. The Robin Hoods showed up.

Occupy Denver

After the march protesters gathered in front of the Capital building. The scene was pretty mellow. People were taking turns speaking and talked about different upcoming actions like Move Your Money Day. The police had been nearby the whole day but it was during this part where they really amped it up. Riot police started showing up. They had tear gas, mace and rubber bullets. They were guarding the steps of the building. Some protesters argued that their permit let them on the steps but the police disagreed. Though the mood was tense nothing happened at this point and the protesters eventually moved back across the street to the park.

During this time some of the protesters decided to do an act of civil disobedience and set up tents. Protesters are allowed to sleep on the sidewalk but camping is not permitted. It’s getting cold so protesters want this rule to change.

The illegal tents:

Occupy Denver

They don’t look too scary do they? Well the proverbial shit hit the fan when the police realized there were tents set up. Cop after cop showed up and started putting on full riot gear.

Occupy Denver

One of the protesters. Doesn’t look threatening does he? Well apparently the police thought we looked like a threat because about 200 of them got in formation to tear down the tents.

Occupy Denver

Police tore down the tents which legally they could do. But then they maced the crowd, beat protesters with batons and shot rubber bullets.

Occupy Denver

This man was in a tree taking pictures of the mayhem when he was shot down with rubber bullets:

Occupy Denver

Photo courtesy of this Daily Kos post.

Thebes and I missed the violence. We had gone back to the hotel to rest and eat. We checked Twitter and saw shit was going down so hurried back. By the time we returned the shootings and beatings had stopped and the police were standing guard around the patch of park where the tents had been erected.

The police then took the various camping supplies off the sidewalks (remember they legally could be there) and hauled them out into the now blocked off street. They claimed it was all “abandoned property” and could legally haul it away. During this protesters were claiming their property-that’s my sleeping bag, that’s my guitar etc. but their claims were ignored.

Occupy Denver

The scene was intense. Police dressed up as stormtroopers are mighty scary looking and knowing that any minute they could just choose to give you a beat down is even scarier. But I believe in this movement so am glad we came.

This protest sign sums up my feelings of the trip:

Occupy Denver

Arizona trip

Last December before Thebes got sick we went to Arizona. The official reason was to see a Doug Stanhope show. We used that excuse to turn it into a vacation to escape the cold temps of New Mexico winter.

Arizona is a beautiful state. I love the saguaro cactus!

Arizona trip

We explored the Saguaro National Park.

Arizona trip

The warmer weather was a treat. The scenery was gorgeous.

Arizona trip

The saguaros are just majestic!

Arizona trip

Even when they’re dead and rotted they still look cool.

Arizona trip

Thebes brought his old school camera along for the trip.

Arizona trip

We visited our friend Willow and crashed at her place for a few days.

Arizona trip

The Stanhope show was in Scottsdale. The Christmas lights on the palm trees were funny.

Arizona trip

As Jesse once commented me and Thebes will use any excuse to have sushi. We ate at Pearl-good sushi and delicious cocktails.

Arizona trip

The Stanhope show was awesome! He’s a good sport and bit my tentacle for a pic.

Arizona trip

This plant was on the way to the show, so pretty.

Arizona trip

There is so much beauty in this state!

Arizona trip

The sun was hitting this yucca at such a lovely angle.

Arizona trip

Do you see the hippie in the tree?

Arizona trip

A dry creek bed:

Arizona trip

We’re planning on going back again for another Stanhope show.

Arizona trip

Thebes, Crohns and the GAPS diet

When Thebes was very sick this past winter I found reading personal experiences of Crohn’s Disease immensely helpful. This post is to chronicle our experience. Maybe it will help someone in the future. Each person has to figure out the path of healing that works for them. I’m not saying this path is the right one but it’s what is working for us.

Looking back we figure Thebes started getting sick in 2005. He started getting mysterious headaches, red splotches on his face and hands and his gums started to bleed. We originally thought it was a reaction to high fructose corn syrup. After drinking normal soda Thebes would get sick with one of the above symptoms.

Cutting out HFCS helped for awhile. But then other corn products started to make him sick-maltodextrin, normal corn, artificial ingredients. For a time we suspected he had Lupus-the gums bleeding and red splotches are symptoms. He even got the telltale butterfly rash a few times.

But Lupus didn’t feel right. So we stuck with the corn allergy theory. Over time he became more intolerant of corn. After seeing a Harry Potter movie Thebes started getting a migraine and his throat starting swelling closed. I panicked and said to go to the ER. Thebes shrugged it off and said he just wanted to drive home.

He hates going to doctors. In hindsight putting off seeing a professional probably wasn’t a good idea. But he’d much prefer to treat himself. His decline in health was steady but slow at the same time. Looking at side by side pics show his weight loss.

Thebes had given up smoking and had gotten a bit chubby. In two years he lost 100 pounds. The first 50 pounds wasn’t alarming; everybody thought he looked great including me. It was that second 50 that was disturbing. His face got dramatically thinner and when he turned sideways naked I could see his ribs and hip bones. His arms and legs started getting too thin.

In 2010 his strength started weaning dramatically. His body had shed the fat and he was now losing muscle. I remember one day he walked outside with the ax to go split wood and fell into the door frame. I took over the firewood splitting after that. He started having trouble lifting full water jugs.

When he would get sick his mind would get foggy. He’d forget things. And then there was the body flopping. When he’d have a flare sometimes his body would spasm like a fish flopping out of water. I didn’t know what was happening but it was scary. He got hot and cold flashes and would sweat profusely. Then after 10 or 20 minutes it would pass and his body would calm. He would be exhausted and hungover for a couple days afterward.

Last year we started suspecting Crohn’s Disease. With Crohn’s a person’s intestine develops holes. Food and nutrients aren’t digested properly and leak out into the body causing intense pain and in a sense “starving” the body. How does western medicine treat it? By giving the patient Prednisone (a steroid) and cutting out the part of the intestine that has a hole. Trouble is more holes appear and the person needs surgery yet again. Steroids for life and multiple surgeries didn’t sound like answers to us. Thebes started cutting out any food that made him sick. He was down to a handful of foods he could eat-meat and veggies mostly.

Last December Thebes got really sick. He crawled into bed and his body flopped around on and off for over an hour. He was sweating profusely and was mentally out of it. I tried to get him to go to the ER but he said he wanted to die at home. I respected his wishes and let him stay in bed. In a weak voice that barely sounded like him he said he loved me and asked me to hold his hand. Something felt different that night and I worried he was going to die. I laid with him on the bed and held him as he shook. I promised myself that if he lived through the night I would force him to a doctor somehow.

He did live. He was terribly weak for days afterward but he made it through. Shortly afterward I was randomly looking up an artist on MTV to watch some videos. There was a show advertized called I’m Allergic To Everything. I thought that sounded like Thebes so clicked to watch it. In the video a young woman Raelyn goes into anaphylactic shock. I started crying-that was exactly what Thebes looked like. I had no idea that was what he was going through.

I decided to call a local naturapath. A few months before Abbey and I had bumped into a friend at the grocery store. I was struck by how skinny she looked and remarked she looked like Thebes. She told us she had Celiac Disease. In addition to Crohn’s we had suspected Celiac. I asked her how she was treating it and she told us about her naturapath in Taos. That’s the guy I called.

Thebes was still recovering from that really bad flare so I went to the appointment with him. Dr. WooWoo (we nickname most everyone) listened to his symptoms and after examining him said he thought he had Crohn’s Disease. He also said if something dramatic didn’t change in the next six months Thebes could die of malnutrition. He said his body wasn’t getting the nutrition it needed from his diet so it was literally taking it from the muscles to stay alive. That was sobering. Ever the skeptic, Thebes asked what kind of experience he had with Crohn’s. Dr. WooWoo said he had Crohn’s himself and had treated himself naturally. I almost burst out in tears at the office. What an incredible stroke of luck!

He then explained his views on Crohn’s and his treatment method. To him all autoimmune diseases are related-Crohn’s, Celiac, Lupus, Endometriosis, etc. They all trace back to a gut system that is out of whack. The gut is considered the “second brain” by natural healers. When bad bacteria becomes overrun in the gut it sends out incorrect information to the immune system. The immune system then “attacks” parts of the body in a misguided attempt to heal the person. Often it is attacking other bacteria in the body. The key is to kill off the bad gut bacteria and replace it with beneficial gut flora. It’s more complex obviously but this is the best way I can explain it.

How to do this? Dr. WooWoo puts people on the GAPS Diet. This is one of the most restrictive diets I’ve ever seen. This book became our guide:

Basically the diet cuts out all grains, sugars, processed food and fruits. People with Crohn’s can’t eat fresh veggies at first because the fiber is too hard for them to process. Fruits are off limits for awhile because they are too sugary. The introduction part of the diet is broth. Thebes had to make broths from meat and vegetables. He’d cook it for days and then strain the bones out. The marrow is important to this diet. He was so sick that his body couldn’t handle whole foods. Probiotics put good bacteria back into the gut. Dr. WooWoo also put him on several other natural herbs and vitamins.

He ate nothing but broth for over a month. Broth for breakfast, lunch, dinner and all snacks. It sucked. His body started having yeast die off symptoms (Candida overgrowth is part of the bad bacteria problem) and he felt like shit for weeks. But the body flopping was gone. The intestinal cramping that often doubled him over in pain started fading. His gums stopped bleeding. He was slowly getting better.

Slowly he introduced solid food back into his diet. His food list was still small and restricted but eating whole foods again was such a treat. He also went in for extensive allergy testing and turned out to be allergic to beef, avocados and some other food. He’s to the point now where he can eat small amounts of fruit again. He says a slice of orange tastes like candy now.

Sieben loves the GAPS diet. After you cook a whole chicken for three days to make broth the meat tastes disgusting but is delicious to a dog. I pull the meat off the bones and mix it in with Z’s dry food.

It’s been almost a year since Thebes was so ill. He’s doing remarkably better. When Thebes initially got diagnosed some family and friends suggested getting the surgery and heavy medication. We talked about that route but it didn’t feel like the right path for us. The GAPS Diet is based on the idea that the immune system is trying to help the patient. With an autoimmune disease the immune system is out of whack and is harming the body but the underlying intent is that it’s trying to help. Alternative medicines and diet try to “reprogram” the immune system so that it can do it’s job and not hurt the body.

One of the tenets of this diet is the Hippocrates quote-”Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” I know it sounds crazy that a diet can treat Crohn’s and other diseases. But it’s working for us; Thebes’ is so much better. This method is not a quick fix. It’s a whole lifestyle change. We spend a lot of time cooking and our grocery bill is one of our biggest expenses.

It’s been a long road but Thebes is doing remarkably better. He’s put some weight back on and added more food to his diet. His strength has returned though he still has to do work in stages with frequent breaks. The body flopping is gone. Sometimes he’ll overdo it with too much dried fruit or too much of one kind of new food. But when he gets sick it’s much better-the intestinal cramps aren’t as bad, though he’ll sometimes get headaches and bleeding gums.

Thebes is going into town again and going to events. This past winter he was so sick he didn’t leave home much at all. Now he’s excited about photography again and wants to travel-sure signs he’s feeling better.

He still has to be careful with his diet but I’m impressed and grateful at how quickly he’s healing. It’s not even been a year and he’s so much better already. In January he didn’t feel well enough to drive into town to go to the grocery store with me. This month he went down to Occupy Santa Fe to camp with other protesters. That’s amazing progress to me.

Will he always have Crohn’s? Most likely. But can he live with it and treat it naturally? So far it seems he can. My Sadness Jumped art piece really captures my feelings about this whole experience. I was distraught and depressed but out of that negativity gratitude and hope have emerged.

Durango trip

In June the Las Conchas Fire had gotten pretty bad. The fire was so big that we were getting smoke and ash up in Taos. The smoke was burning our throats and eyes and making us nauseous. Plus we had paranoia about possible radiation. (In the 50s and 60s radioactive material was buried around Los Alamos Laboratory in the forest. Was it being burned? Was there radioactive material in the air? Would we trust the “officials” to tell the public if there was?)

So Thebes and I decided to go to Colorado on an impulsive vacation. We also took Sieben. What was his reaction?

Durango trip

Doggie vacation! He loved it so much we joked he was having a better time than us.

We picked Durango because it was far, far away from the smoke. Even past the Colorado border there was still haze in the sky.

Durango is a lovely city. There’s so much outdoor activity.

Durango trip

The view above was on a trail that was behind our hotel.

We went on a lot of hikes.

Durango trip

Snow on the mountains:

Durango trip

Sieben and I posed for a photo:

Durango trip

He’s a big boy-he weighs around 115 lb now.

The forest fire was heavily on our minds. Every morning we’d check the news for updates. On one of our hikes we walked through an area that had burned years before.

Durango trip

But there is rebirth even after such destruction. I found this plant inspiring.

Durango trip

The Animas River runs right through Durango. There’s a lovely trail that runs by it. Here’s Thebes scouting for a photo spot:

Durango trip

There was a leash free dog park in town. It was awesome-five acres, free and the Animas River ran through it.

Durango trip

Sieben loved the park. He played in the river, got to run around a new place and got to meet other dogs.

A thistle in bloom:

Durango trip

Many towns including Taos had canceled their July 4th fireworks. Durango had theirs so we still got to see a show this year. We hiked up a trail behind our hotel and had a great view.

Durango trip

At the end of our trip we drove to Winter Park to see our old friend Dartman. We hiked with him on the Appalachian Trail in 2000. We’ve kept in touch over the years but hadn’t seen each other since our trail days.

On the drive there I got violently ill. I was curled in the fetal position in the passenger seat repeatedly vomiting into plastic bags. I told Thebes to keep driving because I was going to be sick either way-why not make some good road time? Later I realized it was a gluten intolerance. That ties in with my Endometriosis so I’ll save that for another post.

We made it to Winter Park but I was still sick. My vomiting had subsided but I was exhausted. We had planned to camp out with Dartman for old times sake but I wasn’t up for that. He got us a cabin at the resort he was at which I really appreciated. But I wasn’t the only one:

Durango trip

Sieben loved sleeping on the bottom bunk bed in our room.

After a good night’s sleep I felt a lot better. I decided to skip hiking though because I wanted to let my body recover. So we decided to go out for sushi instead. Here’s me and Thebes with Dartman:

Durango trip

We drove back to Taos after our visit. The Las Conchas Fire was still going but was starting to get contained. The smoke in Taos was still there but not as bad. Originally we fled to get away from the smoke but our trip turned into a nice mini vacation.

Chicken Hat on Grant

Grant came out for his annual NM visit in September. He brought back the chicken hat for me to alter.

Here’s Grant rocking his funky hat:

Grant Chicken Hat

It was a bit too short and too loose. I took out the orange trim and did some K2togs to cut the stitch count. Instead of seed stitch I did 2×2 ribbing for a snug fit.

Grant Chicken Hat

The earflaps weren’t wide enough so I ripped them out and redid them wider and longer.

Grant Chicken Hat

Grant also wanted the braids thicker so I redid them as well.

Grant Chicken Hat

The alterations weren’t too bad. Luckily the legs were fine.

Here’s Grant with Thebes on the last day of his visit:

Grant Chicken Hat

Silver City

After El Paso, Thebes and I drove back to NM.

Silver City trip

There’s some fun gas stations in this state.

Silver City trip

We had heard Silver City was a cool town and decided to visit.

Silver City trip

Northern New Mexico was still snow covered in March so we were looking forward to warmer temps in the southern part of the state.

Silver City trip

Yeah I know!

We still had a fun visit. We went to some art galleries.

Silver City trip

And visited some thrift stores. This jacket was super groovy and reminded me of my friend Ellen:

Silver City trip

It was quite the arty town.

Silver City trip

This cabin was by the visitor center and was used in a movie that was filmed there.

Silver City trip

After Silver City we drove back home.

Back to Missouri

After Indiana we made our way back to Missouri. We got to visit with Jesse (Bliss) this time. Since she was the bride she was super busy at the wedding. Her new hubby Josh was at a music festival that day so we missed him.

The back of Bliss’s car:

Midwest road trip

It was so fun to hang out with her in person again.

Midwest road trip

That’s one of her awesome paintings behind us.

Midwest road trip

Her dog Jimbay.

Midwest road trip

It was hard to get him to sit still to take a pic. He’s a very happy dog.

We stayed at Grant’s place again.

Midwest road trip

Thebes and Grant:

Midwest road trip

Grant suggested this video for a redneck look.

Midwest road trip

This is Gonzo, an M37 truck that Grant got in exchange for repairing our old landlords’ bridge.

Midwest road trip

He has beautiful Wisteria growing over his porch.

Midwest road trip

After Missouri we drove back to New Mexico. It was an exhausting trip because it was so much in so little time. But it was a really good trip. Next travel post I’ll write about the family visits.

Broad Ripple visit

After Missouri we drove to Michigan to visit Thebes’ family. After that we drove to Indiana to visit mine. Between family visits we stopped in Broad Ripple, IN. Thebes and I met in Broad Ripple at the Rocky Horror Picture Show. I moved in with him a week later and we got married four months after that.

We went to Broad Ripple Park where we got married way back in 1994.

Broad Ripple visit

Here’s the spot where we exchanged vows:

Broad Ripple visit

Fifteen years later:

Broad Ripple visit

We had the reception here.

Broad Ripple visit

After the park we walked around town. Oh it brought back such sweet memories!

Broad Ripple visit

Thebes worked at that Subway when we met. Buffalo Wild Wings are some tasty wings. We ate there a few times back in the day.

We used to walk over this river all the time.

Broad Ripple visit

Broad Ripple still has funky little shops to explore.

Broad Ripple visit

See Thebes’ reflection in the pic above?

Funny advertising:

Broad Ripple visit

The town was hip when we lived there. Now it’s really known for it’s art culture. I was delighted to see outside art and several galleries.

Big ape!

Broad Ripple visit

More public art. Yay!

Broad Ripple visit

Good Earth was the first store Thebes went to when he moved to Broad Ripple. Not only is it still there but they added on to their building.

Broad Ripple visit

I was glad to see that the geese were still there.

Broad Ripple visit

I remember there were several that crossed the road once and backed up traffic for quite a ways.

Broad Ripple visit

They’re very tame around humans.

Broad Ripple visit

My life changed in Broad Ripple. It has a special place in my heart.

Broad Ripple visit

Midwest scenery

On the way to Missouri we stopped at a pretty rest stop.

Midwest road trip

Here’s Thebes grabbing food out of the rental car. Since he has food allergies we filled up the back seat with a cooler and bin of food. It worked out pretty well and thankfully he didn’t have a reaction during our trip.

Midwest road trip

I worked on the Noro blanket while Thebes drove.

Midwest road trip

The Fork accompanied us during our travels. It was an inside joke gift from our friend Grant. Now we either take vacation pics with the Penguin or the Fork.

Midwest road trip

Franklin Mountains State Park

While in El Paso Thebes and I visited Franklin Mountains State Park.

I took this pic on our way out. We had to be out by a closing before they locked the gates.

Franklin Mountains State Park

The scenery was gorgeous.

Franklin Mountains State Park

We hiked on a couple trails. The paths weren’t easy. All the rocks were hard on our feet.

Franklin Mountains State Park

The park is really big-almost 25,000 acres total. It’s the largest urban park in the US and is part of the city of El Paso.

Franklin Mountains State Park

Thebes took some pictures with his large format camera. I had the Penguin pull a Crasher Squirrel moment.

Franklin Mountains State Park

There was so much beauty everywhere!

Franklin Mountains State Park

Franklin Mountains State Park

The yuccas were so big!

Franklin Mountains State Park

Franklin Mountains State Park

This yucca stalk looked like a spinal cord to me.

Franklin Mountains State Park

Thebes in the car, figuring out the way back to our hotel.

Franklin Mountains State Park

After our El Paso visit we headed back to New Mexico.