Summary

Kim Zuch documents a week of personal and professional life, including yoga sessions, veterinary visits for her dog, social media tutoring, the establishment of a pollinator garden, her second COVID-19 vaccine, and a birdwatching program, capturing each day with a photograph.

Abstract

The week captured by Kim Zuch is marked by a blend of personal wellness activities, pet care, professional responsibilities, and community engagement. She resumes yoga practice to alleviate back pain, manages her dog's eye infection with a vet visit, and contributes to her community through social media tutoring and the creation of a pollinator garden. The week also includes a significant personal milestone with the second COVID-19 vaccine dose, which leads to unexpected side effects. Despite these challenges, Zuch maintains her commitments, including leading a birdwatching program, and reflects on the experience of documenting her life through daily photographs.

Opinions

Zuch values the benefits of yoga for physical well-being, as evidenced by her enjoyment of Yoga With Adriene videos and the positive impact on her back muscles.
She expresses concern and care for her pets, particularly when her dog requires veterinary attention for an eye condition.
Zuch finds fulfillment in her social media tutoring work, indicating a sense of satisfaction in helping others navigate digital platforms.
Her interest in nature and conservation is apparent through her enthusiasm for the pollinator garden and the birdwatching program she leads.
The side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine surprise Zuch, suggesting she did not anticipate such a strong reaction, and she advises others to stay hydrated and prepared for potential vaccine side effects.
Despite the discomfort from the vaccine, Zuch appreciates the healing power of nature, as shown by her relief from sitting in the sun and the therapeutic effect of ginger tea on her nausea.
She acknowledges the influence of other writers and photographers, such as Dennett, Anne Bonfert, and Barbara Radisavljevic, in inspiring her to participate in the PHOTO-A-DAY challenge.
Zuch encourages others to join the challenge, highlighting her positive experience in capturing and sharing moments from her daily life.

Jake’s Wetland and Wildlife Meadows. Photo by Kim Zuch.

PHOTO-A-DAY CHALLENGE

Yoga, Vet, and Vaccine

Week 2: June 7–13

This week was not a typical week. I started doing yoga again for the first time in months. My back muscles needed it. We had to take the dog to the vet for his eye. I got to do more social media tutoring and I got my 2nd Covid vaccine.

Yoga with dogs. Photo by the author’s husband.

On Monday, I had my husband come in and take a picture of what it’s like to do yoga with dogs around. I like Yoga With Adriene videos on YouTube.

The second I rolled out the yoga mat and sat down, both dogs were next to me. You can see the Golden Retriever pawing at me for attention. He wouldn’t be ignored. The other dog took up half my mat so I had to work around her until she got bored and walked away.

Bee inside cactus flower. Photo by Kim Zuch.

I was stuck inside the office most of the day on Tuesday, doing paperwork and catching up on a sign project. We were training new volunteers so we also needed to be near the office to help with questions and phone calls.

I managed to get outside for a minute so I took a picture of a bee inside of a Prickly Pear cactus flower. These cactuses have pink and yellow flowers, but we only have the pink ones. We are starting a pollinator garden, so it was good to see pollinators around the flowers.

The Golden Retriever. Photo by Kim Zuch.

I left work a little early on Wednesday so my husband and I could take the dog to the vet. He had a bump on his eyelid and it looked infected. He came home with some salve that we use twice a day and he has to go back for a check-up in a week. It’s something like a stye.

The cover photo was taken on Thursday. I was doing more social media tutoring, but I got into town half an hour early. I stopped at the wetland and walked around until it was time to go.

I also got the 2nd Covid vaccine Thursday afternoon. My husband and coworker got the same one. Neither of them had any side effects, so I assumed it would be the same for me. Nope!

101.3°F (38.5°C) on my digital thermometer. Photo by Kim Zuch.

I woke up at 2 a.m. Friday morning with a fever, chills, headache, dizziness and nausea. My entire body hurt. I slept most of the day. I drank Thera-Flu and slept some more. I didn’t expect any side effects from the vaccine, so I was taken by surprise.

If I’d been prepared, it might not have been so bad. My advice is to drink a lot of water ahead of time. I was busy all day Thursday and drank more coffee than water. I got dehydrated.

Sitting outside in the sun with Sunny. Photo by Kim Zuch.

Saturday was much better. My fever was gone, but I still had a headache and some pain, so I stayed home from work. I sat outside with the dogs for a few minutes. The sun felt amazing on my tired and sore muscles.

A cup of strong ginger tea cured my nausea so I could eat again. My husband put a roast in the slow cooker so we had a good dinner.

Quartz and White Sage candle, bought from a local maker. Photo by Kim Zuch.

On Sunday, my workday started at 6:30 a.m. I had a birdwatching program in a local wetland and I had two people show up. The program was good. We saw and heard a lot of birds, including my favorite — a Great Blue Heron.

My only lingering side effects were a little dizziness and some sore lymph nodes. I was tired, but it was a busy day so I didn’t notice it as much.

I’m at home Sunday night with a candle burning while I’m signed into Medium. Later tonight I’ll get some things ready to go to the post office for Monday morning.

This has been my week in photographs. Thanks to Dennett for starting this PHOTO-A-DAY challenge. Also, thanks to Anne Bonfert and Barbara Radisavljevic for the inspiration to join in. I had fun looking at my daily life, deciding what to take pictures of and what to share.

Anyone can join in! Seven days, seven photos. Check out SNAPSHOTS and read their submissions guidelines.