Early this week a storm moved across Kittitas County. I went to sleep about 10 PM and missed the lightning and if there was thunder it did not wake me. I think the strikes were closer to the mountains. I’ve talked to folks that saw, but did not hear, the strikes. Others closer to the mountains reported heavy rain. I missed it all.
Having lived where serious storms are common – Iowa – I’ve never experienced anything similar. Okay, almost never. In 2006 I was with a group camped at about 5,000 feet, northwest of EBRG. A storm came by on the ridge tops so we saw and heard much, but only had rain at camp. The thunder bounced around the ridges 1,200 feet above camp and then exited to the north – down a valley. We never got that sort of thing in Iowa.
From the web:
[ https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/yearly-wellness-visits ]
An annual wellness visit is a yearly appointment with your primary care provider focused on preventive health care, where they assess your health risks and create a personalized prevention plan. It is different from a standard physical exam, as it does not include a hands-on examination but rather emphasizes health maintenance and disease prevention.
Medicare covers the cost. It seems to be optional, although the health care providers get paid just for talking to you. A person I know doesn’t do this because she is healthy and considers it a waste of time. I go and while I get quizzed, I also can ask questions. The time is more relaxed than in the “exam” that is held later, called a chronic conditions visit.
I’d like to compare my answers to the national sample but haven’t found that possible. There are other reports that come close.
At the end of the “wellness visit” I get blood drawn, with the results available for the second visit 10 days away. The results of the blood exam are referenced to ranges for the age and sex. These are interesting because we are all different. I have a couple of oddities, and some tests might point to developing issues that can be controlled, such as high blood pressure or cholesterol. I’m on a minimalist doze for each of those.
I go back on Friday the 11th for the physical exam. I changed insurance companies on January 1st so I don’t know what my co-pay will be this year.
The heavy rain early this week has brought muddy water down off the mountains. To get to my health visit I cross a stream [Teanaway River– Tea an a way] that runs into the Yakima River and I can see both.
The color was about like peanut butter. Stream velocity was fast but there wasn’t flooding. I didn’t stop to take a photo. Oh well.
We are not pruning this coming week so I should be able to do things here, like taking garbage and trash to the transfer station and clearing away some messes in the yard. Rain is iffy and cold mornings are likely. Tuplips and similar plants are popping up, although nothing is blooming.
Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John