a galaxy far, far away

This is what's out there. Hubble captured this picture of young star cluster NGC 602.

As for what's in here—well, some of the fans have been asking. I signed up to go on this trek in Nepal with J in about two months. That was ok until reality intruded: I got an e mail from my prospective tentmate detailing her training regimen. Three or four miles of walking at 8,000 feet. A day. My training consisted of too much beer and too little exercise. I was 30 pounds overweight, and it was doubtful that my bum knees would bear me up a flight of stairs, never mind to 14,000 feet. And then I remembered my last experiences walking at altitude. Hell. And that was 15 years ago! And I was being paid to do it!
I considered wussing out. Instead, I went on a health kick. Thirteen days ago, I want on a cleansing fast, eating or drinking nothing but a kind of health food Gatorade—and water. No coffee, no alcohol, no chips and dip, no vitamin pills, no aspirin. Nada. Lemonade/water/lemonade/water. Ad nauseum. For ten days.
So I feel fabulous. I dropped 10+ pounds and am detoxed bigtime. I'm climbing stairs (six flights and panting) and doing situps. And living on vegetable soup for the moment. I don't engage to do this forever (the words "lifestyle change" fill me with horror), but hopefully long enough to make it up the hill.