Sunday, Jan 3
For Jan 2 CPAP. Reported figures, 4 hrs 35 min with AHI=0.87. Events: 4 H, 0 CSR, 2 PP, 6 RERA. No major mask leaks (max=20 L/min); oximeter on entire time, 8 hr 13 m, with an AHI=0.49. The extra 4.4 hrs were consistent with high SpO2 and normal pulse.
Some larger snowflakes falling this morning. Probably got over 2″ today and the temperature is higher than expected in the 20s. We are to get warmer, upper Mid-West to get colder. Sounds OK.
We spent a lot of time on the blog, and finally got it published, with the story of our car sliding off the road Tuesday evening, and the Raclette on Wednesday. Our photos were still getting scrunched and requiring people to right click and display in a different tab or window, but now that has been fixed. John downloaded the new “2016 Theme” of WordPress and that seemed to correct the problem and put a frame around our blog text, and making the presentation a little larger or at least different. We don’t have the time to go back and take out all the special instructions before the photos, but we can cease worrying about it in the future, so that’s nice.
Need to install my AICD reader/recorder/transmitter tonight before bed. Done, thanks to John’s help. The digital world is hurtling at us. If you are not ready and willing, read a book titled Future Shock.
Monday, Jan 4 ♪♫•*¨*•.¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Happy Birthday, John ♪♫•¸.•*¨*•♫♪
For Jan 3 CPAP. Reported figures, 8 hrs 40 min with AHI=0.69. Events: 6 H, 4 PP, 12 RERA. No major mask leaks (max=14 L/min); oximeter on entire time, with good readings throughout.
John’s fed animals and us, and now is working on Vanguard stuff. Not only does he help me by being a great chef, but also he is my financial guru, not to mention yard work and farm worker, craftsman, and Mr. Fixit, in addition to editing and publishing this blog, for all of which I’m very grateful.
I am working on data, making photo collages, sending birthday wishes, and dealing with Yakima Heart Center personnel (Toni) to be sure my transmitter is doing its job. She verified that it is.
John shoveled the driveway entrance and in front of the mail and paper boxes, and neighbor Doss Roberts came to the rescue with a large snow mover, coming on down our driveway. I took his photo, but will leave it out of this write-up. I’ve put one of our other neighbors below, in a smaller vehicle that fit between two closely situated buildings to remove piles of snow that slide off the metal roof of the shed next to the house.
I was rather useless all day but finally did a load of dishes. John composed a note to birthday well wishers and I think I got all the e-mails collected to send his out. Then I crashed. I still have more to do, but ran out of time. For those who didn’t receive his treatise, here it is below. I don’t want to see it wasted. Check out his sister’s note after reading the following (italicized).
Hi all you birthday well-wishers!
Thanks for the good tidings. I need to write a sort of general, rather than individual (thus a bit longish) note as a response because, well, it is my birthday and I have things to do. Ha!
Several folks mentioned snow. Yes, I know what that is. Best guess is we’ve had maybe 18 inches total. That’s not much for folks in snow country, but we are on the “dry side” of the Cascades. Most has been very fluffy and I used an old push broom to make paths and piles – then shovel it out of the way. Another John mentioned his tractor malfunctioning. My little one did also and I haven’t used it much. Big investment, no return. Maybe in the spring I’ll get some help with it and then move some dirt around.
Anyway, after the accumulating snow began to be a hassle, a good neighbor from up Naneum Road came down and got rid of it. Thanks, Allen. My birthday snow on top of snow from 2 days ago became a hassle quickly. I was out at the road making a path for the mail carrier through the thick stuff the county crew threw that way. A neighbor from the other direction came by with a big Case front-end loader. He cleaned snow away clear to the house. Wow. Thanks, Doss.
I was thus able to concentrate on paths to the hay barn and around the side and back of the house.
I got two gifts from Nancy this week. Through an exchange site called “Buy Nothing Ellensburg,” she wrangled up new-like boots. Heavy duty; waterproof Chinooks – Company name. The second thing is she didn’t bang me over the head with a frying pan for driving her nearly new Subaru Forester into a ditch. Luckily, the ditch was just 4 feet deep and had 3 feet of snow (and mud and water) in it. She’s just had her ICD replaced and the left side near her shoulder has stitches in it, so trying to get her out the driver’s side with the car leaning as it was to her snow/ditch side was not going to happen. Neighbors, Sheriff’s Deputy, and a big tow truck (via AAA) made short work of the little episode. Lots of flashing lights, like a parade. Might have been short work, but the wait was over an hour for Nancy wedged into the passenger door. Thanks, all. Look at our blog for the story with pictures and video. [ rocknponderosa.com ]
I had a free afternoon last week and cut a few limbs off the Ponderosa Pines hanging over the drive. We have a small herd of Mule Deer hanging around and they started munching on the pine needles. Surprised me. So I’ve cut some more. I carried a big limb out toward where the deer were laying; they moved. Then came back within a few minutes. One looked at me and, I think, said thanks. Maybe not. Work and fun, all in one! During the past week, birds cleaned all the red fruit off of the Mountain Ash just outside the front door. Watching them is cheap entertainment. But now what?
A couple of you invited us to visit – better weather, new scenery, activities, and so on. It is not likely that will happen. We are down to one dog and a cat, plus 3 feral cats, and 5 horses. We no longer ride but they are family and look pretty out in the snow. And they have to be fed. There is an inverse relationship between temperature and how much they eat. When it is near zero, as it was last week they eat most of the time. Today it was about 28 and they played and rested a little.
The other thing is that I grew up when family and friends could walk into a plane and help get the traveler seated, meet the pilot and crew, and watch the plane taxi away. Okay, that was a DC3. When we flew from Iowa, the plane was a Fokker 50 – wings on top – that flew to Chicago at about 10,000 feet. Good views from all windows, fun, no hassles. Now planes (and airports) are all hassle, no fun, no views. While Nancy and I really do like all you folks – home calls. Thanks.
Compare me with friend Rebekah. She travels as much as the US Secretary of State. She could likely do a better job than the one we have or the one before that. The position isn’t one we vote for, so run for president, Rebekah – when you are old enough.
Thanks for all your responses.
Well, I’ve likely missed something. That would not be news.
Nancy can add to or edit and we’ll get this off.
From my Irish Grandmother:
“May your heart be light and happy,
May your smile be big and wide,
May your pockets always have
A coin or two inside!”
======== nothing to add, just to perform and get this returned to everyone who emailed, and if I have email addresses, then to those who LIKEd on Facebook.
(Nancy here today 5 days later – and still I have not responded to everyone).
Below was John’s sister, Peggy’s, comment to the above.
Glad to hear you had so many birthday greetings.
I’m also glad Nancy didn’t hit you with the frying pan. But she would have no right to do that. I just heard on the news that an airplane in Spokane skidded off the runway because it hit a snow drift. If the airplane pilots do it, guess you can to.
Tuesday, Jan 5
For Jan 4 CPAP. Reported figures, 7 hrs 31 min with AHI=0.53. Events: 4 H, 2 CSR, 6 RERA. No major mask leaks (max=15 L/min); oximeter on entire time. SpO2 okay.
We both slept in some, and now all outside cats have been fed and the horses, and John has gone outside to resume elective snow removal.
I canceled going to town to Jazzercise today because I’m still not up to par with my left arm, shoulder, and healing incision. It is still bothering me. Not going to town was a good call – now at 2:00 p.m., snow is here. Seems heavy but we are not expecting much.
Our neighbor made some chocolate chip pudding cookies for John’s birthday and delivered them today. Very tasty, after a wonderful tender chicken dinner with mushrooms and pineapple.
John’s continuing to do work on the ice and snow around our place.
John Removing Icicles from Garage Roof on 1/5/16
Click this to see the action.
Wednesday, Jan 6
For Jan 5 CPAP. Reported figures, 7 hrs 56 min with AHI=0.76. Events: 6 H, 4 CSR, 2 PP, 16 RERA. No major mask leaks (max=19 L/min); oximeter on entire time with high SpO2 and normal pulse.
Early morning call from dentist to hear my tooth must be taken completely out–root and all, by an oral surgeon, Darrell Tew, DDS PS in Yakima, at the SunRidge Oral Surgery practice, who specialize in dental implants. Did not start my day well. You can check out their practice and watch a video on implants. Link to Dr. Tew’s site. It is a nice informative site, and I can even fill out a 6-page registration form to send in advance of my first visit (for a consultation). Over the next couple of days, I have to find all the information requested and submit it.
I went to the hospital lab today for a blood draw for my INR, to the Food Bank to play music, where I grabbed some apples and a loaf of bread from the bread room, and on to SAIL exercise at the AAC (Adult Activity Center) – we affectionately still call the Senior Center – going against the word police. When I paid my yearly AAC dues, Tina pointed out there were numerous sixes on my check — and receipt number, and that I should go buy a Powerball ticket. Maybe I should have bought six! Afterwards, I bought 2 Powerball tickets (one for John and one for me, two mega millions, and two lotto). Why not? there were the 6 tickets. Maybe it will keep the Gov from raising taxes if the State earns enough from gambling. Also stopped by Grocery Outlet for buckets of vanilla ice cream – a for-sure winner.
Did all of the above, but failed to make contact with the physician’s nurse about my INR reading. They left a message on the home phone to call them but not what the value was, and when I returned the message at a reasonable hour, no one answered. My cell phone was not called. Oh well. I now have filled out a form to give them the permission to leave such with my hubby or on the telephone recorder.
We’ve been waiting for delivery of our fire wood stove screen, and it is not yet here at dark, but they can still come by, for they claim it will be delivered before 8. So we cannot close the gate yet. The local paper is being delivered after dark now, also. Snow, fog, and dark make for slow going. We got a delayed notice on a Bundt pan, but not on the screen. I think they both were coming UPS, but probably in different shipments. Neither came, and it is almost 10:00 p.m. Our old Bundt pan lost its internal non-stick capability, got put in a bag, and stashed away. John wants to try a few things, including the old-fashioned Tunnel of Fudge Cake, and ordered a new pan. Look out waist line.
Thursday, Jan 7
For Jan 6 CPAP. Reported figures, 8hrs 18 min with AHI=0.12. Events: 1 H, 16 RERA. No major mask leaks (max=17 L/min); oximeter on entire time with high SpO2 and normal pulse.
Finally made contact with my family physician’s office. My INR was 2.2. Whoopee, right on, no more blood drawing until 2/3/16.
Picture of deer eating from back tree, and snow slid off shed roof next to garage John now has to move so it won’t melt and flood the garage. The previous owner could have had the shed built another 10 feet away. Years ago snow from the shed roof made a 5 ft. high mound and then it rained. Water came under the side and onto the floor of the garage. Now there is so much stuff in there we would have a disaster. File that under the heading of Poor Planning. Left of two deer eating from the downed tree John provided for them, as part of his thinning project. Right photo still shows one eating and seven resting under the trees.
This left photo shows the same tree as above, but also branches with needles that John has cut from another tree and put out for the deer. They have almost finished those now. The right pix is of a spike antler our dog Annie found in the snow and brought to John. The Cross mechanical pencil is for scale.
I expected 11 people today coming to Rehab, but all could not make it, and parking spaces were limited because of the snow and people not parking correctly. We were short one guitarist and one singer. It was new music and I didn’t feel I did a very good job of leading off the songs. I think we need to practice a little more on the starts.
I arrived home about 3:30 to find our neighbor Ken helping John by removing snow from between the shed and the house. They had this thing to move cow dung around so John calls it a pooper scooper, Ken calls it a loader, and often it is called a Bobcat™, but this one is from a different company.
This trio shows a before shot I took in the morning before I left for town. The middle is Ken in the vehicle, and the right is John after the majority of the snow has been removed, but he is moving more to the center from the side of the buildings. Ken made one more run to remove the snow. THANKS !!
At 6:32 p.m. our screen for the wood stove arrived a day late and quietly. (I learned of the time it was delivered to the front door an hour after it was put there, from an email from UPS tracking.) We were both in the room by the front door, with the dog, and no noise of TV or radio. Two people must have walked the 2 packages in the front driveway (the gate was open and the drive was cleared of snow). They did not ring the doorbell or knock. We were here with the lights on. Weird. The box says 1-piece, but that wasn’t so. It has come apart but because it isn’t meant to arrive this way, there are no instructions. John determined it was not going to be real easy getting it back together. Thus, a project for tomorrow. He’ll have to clear a flat space on the carpet to work on.
Friday, Jan 8
For Jan 7 CPAP. Reported figures, 7 hrs 1 min with AHI=0.29 . Events: 2 H, 13 RERA. No major mask leaks (max=15 L/min); oximeter on entire time consistent with high SpO2 and normal pulse.
Talked to the oral surgeon’s staff assistant and got on the schedule for my consultation, Feb 2.
Today is New Year’s Party at AAC, and we are taking for the potluck dessert – brownies. It starts at 11:30 a.m. The staff fixes the main meal which was 3 kinds of meatballs: turkey, BBQ beef, and Italian Parmesan beef. Large selection of mixed salads, rolls, and numerous items brought by the folks attending.
I took a bunch of pictures to share with the staff at the AAC, because they were busy entertaining and feeding and organizing games for after eating. They are always grateful for my photography.
AAC Jan. 8, ’16 New Year’s Potluck Party
I took photos and videos; here is the first:
John Talking with Arvin and Pat
And here is Arvin’s Bull Story
Left is the end of the buffet line with desserts. Our contribution was brownies with walnuts and chocolate chips. We are in the center (taken at the end of the event), and the right is the other end of the table with the three kinds of meatballs (turkey, BBQ beef, and Italian ones), rolls, mixed green salads with all sorts of stuff, chips, fruit, and a large selection of different desserts, some acting as salad for me who cannot eat all the things in the large dark green salads.
Saturday, Jan 9
For Jan 8 CPAP. Reported figures, 6 hrs 19 min with AHI=1.27. Events: 8 H, 2 CSR, 5 RERA. No major mask leaks (max=20 L/min); oximeter on entire time. Okay readings.
There is another video I want to share (not mine) but it is for all owl lovers out there, here is one for you:
Watch the Snowy Owl
Be sure not to miss the video and the repeat and slow down at the end.
Just warm enough for water to drip off the roof, then run or freeze. After feeding the horses he cleaned up some ice and snow, and emptied the 5-gallon pails catching water from the roof-valley out front.
I’m working on about 10 different projects, including this blog, which John wants to publish today rather than tomorrow. He has managed to assemble the wood stove screen, which did not arrive in one piece as expected. Then he wrote a not-so-nice review on the Amazon feed back site. It has not been a good week for receiving undamaged shipped items from Amazon.com – via UPS and FedEx and the USPS (nothing arrived damaged from them). In one box of food-stuff, packages moved around, broke the bubble packs, and generated minor damage. It is not serious but enough to discourage me from ordering those sorts of things again.
Hope your week was fine.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan