Sunday, Feb 8
CPAP report. Reported figures. 8 hrs 45 min with AHI = 0.11
Events: 1 CSR, 1m; same time as 1 H No major mask leaks (max=20 L/min)
Finally, we got the blog out at 1:00 a.m. today, for the first week of February. I got up at 8:00 a.m., took some Acetaminophen, and went back to bed until 10:00 a.m. I am sure I needed the rest.
Been trying to catch up on emails, washing clothes, paying bills (get a license tab renewal for the 2003 truck –at least I can do that over the computer and it is mailed to us). Wow, the cost is up to $73. Alternately, I worked on my jobs list. Now have 675 people on the list, a Google Group, named Northwest Geography Jobs, but it is full of much more information for other disciplines.
Rain was called for all week, but this morning’s forecast throws in a couple of sunny days. Today we have overcast, and it rained in the middle of the night about 3:00. John has done all the morning feeding and exercising dogs, and in addition, fed Woody, the young female feral kitty. John put a wood pallet on top of the Marigold planter box. When John and the dogs go out in the morning she will show up. We’ve fed her there a few times and she is getting used to the dogs and John going buy. In the mornings she is the only cat around, but towards dusk her mother, Sue, usually shows up, and some days Lemon, too. Evening feeding is on the other side of the house and afterward the 2 older cats leave. Woody stays and will follow John around as he works in the yard and feeds hay from the barn. She does disappear at times but can usually be called to her new pallet perch out front.
John came in from his raspberry pruning to fix a great lunch. He chopped up some of the pot-roasted beef, shredded cheddar cheese, fried mushrooms, and put them in a heated whole-wheat croissant roll. What a nice sandwich. With it, we had pears and pecans. Too bad you cannot taste it so here’s a photo for you.
A bunch of time spent on the computer and also gathering dishes and clothes, washing clothes, then putting both away.
Took me all day to finally get to taking my data from the CPAP & Oximeter, and I’m half done with time to eat a late dinner. I am not sure what we’re having tonight, probably leftover beef stew.
Monday, Feb 9
CPAP report. Reported figures. 6 hrs 43 min with AHI = 0.00
Events: none No major mask leaks (max =13 L/min)
Today I went for my INR and by Lorene’s hospital room, to find she was on her way to Royal Vista. On to SAIL, where I took my antibiotic an hour ahead of my teeth cleaning. From there to Super 1 to buy a Powerball ticket (it’s up to $450 million). I’m sure we could figure a few things to do with that much money. Went to have teeth cleaned and it was fine, except for a hole needing replaced in a gold crown in the far back top of my mouth, left side (now scheduled for 2/24). Dropped off our school bond voting ballots at the Courthouse and on the way home I went by Royal Vista to see Collette M, and deliver knitted finger-less gloves for her. These were tailor-made especially for her by Carol H, with measurements I took for her right arm, larger than normal, because of suffering from Lymphedema. They fit, and I forgot to carry my camera, so will have to return and document it for the knitter to see. (Look below at the end of Thursday’s report.) Also visited my neighbor, Lorene, and 3 others there: Donna, Stan, and Jeanne.
Home to play catch-up on being away all day. John fixed a late dinner of baked chicken, fried mushrooms, butternut squash, and peaches.
Tuesday, Feb 10
CPAP report. Reported figures. 7 hrs 39 min with AHI = 0.13
Events: 1H waking up No major mask leaks (max=16 L/min)
I guess I was wiped out again. Slept in until 9:30 after awaking at 7:00 a.m. Darn, my Internet was down this morning, but John was outside and had not opened his computer yet. He was working until coming back in to fix some brunch, and I told him it had been down for a couple hours. He checked and his was up and going. Mine was not, could not be ‘troubleshot”, and other things were going whacko on my computer. I messed with it for hours, before I finally (at John’s suggestion) took it to the backroom of the house to be just a few feet from the router. I really no longer know which of the many things I did actually allowed me back on.
Speaking of brunch, what got me through the rest of the day was John’s specially-made frittata (I think that’s the best description), large biscuit, and bacon.
INR from yesterday was 2.3 and I don’t have to go back for a month. Talked to nurse Cathie this morning. Karen was the one who left the message yesterday with John, and did not tell him the value, but that I had to go back in 2 weeks, because it was protocol even though it was all right. I realized that was the reason for going back again for the redraw, and this should have been fine for a monthly schedule again. I was correct. Considering the content of our menus, it’s nice the INR is only affecting adversely by alcohol and dark green vegetables (with much Vitamin K).
Wow, is this cool, link sent to me by my native American neighbor, Allen.
I packed up some more clothes that no longer fit me, to give away (some small and some very large). I thought I had given most of the very large away, but not. I’m sure I have more in garbage bags or boxes yet around to uncover and re-home. This cleaning of past things is a pain and so very time-consuming. Back to tax receipt work until I leave in a couple hours for a music event.
I dropped off some clothes to a neighbor a mile away and went to Super 1 for donuts ($3.00 off dozen mixed), on my way to Hearthstone to play religious music, with the group, The Connections. I was the only stringed instrument to go with the piano (also a stringed instrument), with 3 other singers. We had a large and appreciative audience who were singing every song. They get to choose 3 songs during the program, and it was delightful as usual what they pick. I knew all of them from my childhood. Occasionally, the audience comes up with a song pick some of the group members do not know. Usually the pianist knows the song from his background.
I have talked previously about the Buy Nothing Ellensburg site, and that I donated a basket to the group. Today, a thank you came out for the fundraising efforts and the basket’s use for the Ellensburg Homeschool Community Co-Op. This is our basket and its contents.
Wednesday, Feb 11
CPAP report. Reported figures. 9 hrs 9 min with AHI = 0.00
Events, none. No major mask leaks (max=16 L/min)
Interesting day. Slept in until 9:00!! Had a donut for breakfast. Worked on a few things but took off for town at 11:00 a.m., and got there to speak to one of the Food Bank clients. I met one of my former students there, who wants to volunteer. He was my student in in 1992 for an early GIS class (with G.R.A.S.S.) [That stands for Geographic Resources Analysis Support System. It is still open-source, meaning it is free, and can be used on Macs, Windows, and Linux operating systems. It just celebrated its 30th birthday.].
Back to Alex M. We have stayed friends and kept in touch all these years. He brought a CWU student from Saudi Arabia (he’s here taking English). Once his English is good enough (it’s quite good now), he will move to Florida or Kentucky to go into Hospital Management. We played for 1/2 hour, and had two singers today (F.I.S.H. staff members), in addition. One of them ran copies of Have I Told you Lately that I Love You, for the audience to use. They enjoyed singing along and on many others they knew the words to (This Land is Your Land, I’ve Been Working on the Railroad, and I’ll Fly Away).
Ate lunch at a table with Alex M and a couple of others. I learned that he had the same surgeon as I did (Dr. Sharma) January last year for a 6-way bypass!! He thinks of the surgeon the same way I do. From there I went by the bread room and got a couple of loaves of bread (French), and some nice hamburger buns, called Telera. On to SAIL class, almost arriving late. Our class had 20 today. I stayed and participated in the Yoga class for the first time, from 2:45 to 3:30. It was relaxing, but there were several over-the-head arm movements I could not do. I did all right on most of the others. Home without making any other stops, except required by law behind school buses. I turned east on a side road to escape one headed north but then ran into another (luckily at the end of that road), where I turned on to my Naneum road; the bus went straight. Home to take care of dirty dishes, lots of emails, and needing to fix food for 4 cats, 3 outside ones tonight.
Tonight was a good dinner. Baked Cod, fried onion rings by John, and Honeycrisp apples.
Thursday, Feb 12
CPAP report. Reported figures. 5 hrs 3 min with AHI = 0.00
Events: none No major mask leaks (max=8 L/min)
I was awakened at 8:30 a.m. by a gentleman calling from Port Townsend, about his wife’s interest in playing guitar while she is in Cle Elum taking care of her sick daughter. The president of the WA Old Time Fiddlers Association, Rita, gave him my number as a contact. I managed to contact her (Renee) and a fellow (Maury) in our group who is in the Cle Elum area, for him to pick her up to join us today.
Did morning corrections on Blue Skirt Waltz notes I found yesterday while playing at the Food Bank while actually reading the notes. I printed the music for Renee (mentioned above), who joined us, today.
Pretty good turnout of players–Dr. Dave made it from the West side with his Bass Fiddle. We haven’t seen him since last year. We had several guitarists (5), banjo, fiddle, tambourine, and a singer.
My Rehab experience was fun today. We had our faithful few there we know by name. Helen always gets up and dances waltzes using her walker, and stopping to flirt with the guys. Another fellow (Ted) we call thumbs up because he loves fast or hoedown music, and he gives us the thumbs up, often at the end of songs he likes. As I was walking out there was a nurse standing next to Ted. I thanked him and told her he was our thumbs-up man. The nurse and I looked at each other and realized we knew faces, but didn’t know from where, but she knew it wasn’t the fiddling. Turns out she was an aide there when I was in for 7 weeks in 2010. I remembered that she was a super helper, and I said, I was right in this room here (we were standing in front of it). She asked the year, and I asked if she was a nurse now. Yes, she became one in 2013. So, I thanked her again for the wonderful care she gave me while there. Her name is Melanie. Only a few of the staff are still there, who were there when I was.
After Rehab I planned to meet a fellow from the Buy Nothing Ellensburg group at 4:00 at Safeway for a plunger he was freely giving. I saw it on-line and put in a request, figuring it would be perfect for our sink that got clogged last week. I was the only one interested, so I received it. No drawing necessary. We agreed to meet at the door of Safeway, closest to the wind gauge. I decided to show you that gauge and a picture of the plunger he shared (I grabbed it from the site, and made the combo below.)
Finally, one more stop on my way home, at another nursing home to visit two people. The first is Collette Matheson, who is the one who had emergency surgery a couple of weeks ago to remove cancer in her spine. They believe they got it all. I went by Monday to deliver her knitted finger-less gloves that I described on Monday’s blog entry this week. I carried my camera and got her photo (below), which I made into a Valentine/Get Well Soon wish for all at the Briarwood potluck/music session to sign this Saturday.
I will copy it and take it to her. Normally, she would be there, enjoying, singing, and helping serve us the meal after we entertain for an hour.
While there, I also checked in on my neighbor, Lorene, but she was sleeping, so I didn’t wake her. I will see Lorene again next Tuesday night when our other music group goes there in the evening.
Friday, Feb 13
CPAP report. Reported figures. 9 hrs 3 min with AHI = 0.22
Events: 1 Cheyne Stokes Resp (2 min), 2 h No major mask leaks (max=9 L/min)
I spent a ton of time this week on the Home-school Running Start issue at CWU. I’m writing a note to my former Dean, Department Head, and the Provost about a message she sent to the entire faculty about a new Task Force to deal with the high school on Running Start programs. Two of my students in the early 2000s first were in my Maps class as Running Start students and were homeschooled. I am recommending CWU get a representative from the Ellensburg Homeschool Community Co-Op, because right now they only plan on involving the public high schools. Although I wanted to finish it this afternoon and get it mailed, I did not succeed. Now, with President’s Day Monday, it won’t be seen until Tuesday, and I’ll be gone to Yakima to another doctor’s appointment.
Temperature was up to 59 at 2:53 (high of the day), and John went to the transfer station (dump) with a truckload of regular house garbage and food remnants we’ve frozen (chicken bones and such things), and some things from outside – used baling twine, for one. The worst thing he had to deal with was a large wooden spool acquired from the electric utility. After 20 years of being on the ground, parts had rotted. There are many nails, bent-over ones, and other fasteners. The view below (from the web) is what they look like new.
He paid a fee of $22, but that’s cheaper than paying for weekly pickup. We often have more “stuff” than would fit in a regular garbage can. On the way home, he stopped at Safeway for the special-priced items on sale just today. Loaded up on Pepsi products at a very reduced rate. He (as I was yesterday) was amazed at the offering of Valentine flower bouquets at a high price ($25 and up), for Valentine’s Day. We wonder if they sold all of them?
Tonight was spaghetti on little shells pasta. We skipped lunch.
Saturday, Feb 14
CPAP report. Reported figures. 6 hrs 23 min with AHI = 0.31
Events: 2 H No major mask leaks (max=14 L/min)
I received an exciting phone call from my friend in CA (Jeri Conklin) with whom I’m the co-owner of the little female Brittany you have been hearing about for the past year, plus: Cedaridge Kip’s Camelot Shay Tre’, JH. She was calling to tell me about an announcement from the American Brittany’s website of the standings for ABC Juvenile Dog of the Year. I am not sure when this is cut off and finalized. She will now be competing in Adult Gun-Dog events. Juvenile stakes are Open Puppy & Open Derby, and I assume Amateur Derby. I have not heard of their being an Amateur Puppy. This is based on the number of dogs defeated for the placements obtained. It went further, but I have only copied the first five.
https://www.facebook.com/americanbrittanyclub?fref=photo
Current standings as of January 28, 2015 for
ABC Juvenile Dog of the Year
1 Wind Mtn Shadywoods To The Point S Palmer
2 Gunn Slingin’ Annie D Floyd
3 Jazz Kerr’s Jazzy Lady R Kerr
4 Sniksoh Therapist J Hoskins
5 Cedaridge Kip’s Camelot Shay Tre’ JH J Conklin/N Hultquist
5 Tack’s Joker P Dangerfield
On another topic: John Ebenal called and will meet John and me at Briarwood today to exchange a fence post driver we originally bought from him at his yard sale several years ago. He needs it for fence making in Sequim. He and John visited mostly about WA trails, while I played music for the residents. He didn’t stay for food, and John only ate a lemon (frosted) cookie, so he will have some leftovers for dinner tonight. I do not need anything except perhaps dessert later. I had some of the Italian Sausage, tomato, tortellini soup, a chicken salad sandwich, couple of chunks of cheese, deviled eggs, and a serving of Trifle. Boy, was it excellent (everything was); punch was raspberry sherbet. I should have taken a picture, but too much was going on. Here is a photo of a Trifle from the web, that looks the same except ours had fresh strawberries on top and throughout, with bananas, peaches, pudding more fruit, and cake.
Finally, my last photo for the day, came from a Captcha request when I was adding a new person to the Jobs list on Google Groups, and normally to prove you are not a robot, you need to look at a visual of 3 to 4 black numbers on a gray background, and type them into the phrase box. Imagine the smile on my face, when this came up instead:
We should mention it is very cold in the Eastern USA and we have many friends and relatives there. Stay warm and safe, y’all! {Click image below to see detail.}
Hope your week was fine.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan