Sunday, Jan 24
For Jan 23 CPAP. Reported figures, 5 hrs 41 min with AHI=0.35. Events: 2 H, 0 CSR, 6 RERA. No major mask leaks (max=13 L/min); oximeter on entire time with high SpO2 and normal pulse.
We published the blog at 11:24 a.m. today!
Rainbow on Kitchen Floor, 1-24-16
Rainbow in Motion
Speaking of rainbows, check this out. Late this week (Friday), as we were traveling home, we saw a rainbow, but it was rather washed out. I got home and the same day, my friend from Moscow, ID who hired John and me into one position at the University of Idaho in 1974, Sam M.W. Scripter, posted a photo taken in Moscow on June 15, 2011, from the back of his home. He put it on Facebook today. I asked if I could use it with credits in this blog and he agreed. This is one of the nicest rainbow photographs I have ever seen. I am sure you will agree. I wish I could have seen it in person.
Photo by Sam M.W. Scripter, with Paradise Ridge in the background; Moscow, ID taken 6/15/2011
Now I will start timing chores to keep me going and not spend the rest of the day on only one thing.
John fixed a brunch of sliced ham, mushroom & cheese omelet. We also had a cream-cheese-frosted cinnamon roll of which I cut off most of the roll’s yeasty non-cinnamoned bottom and shared with the dog, even though she doesn’t need any more weight gain.
The sun has shined all day and the temperature is up to 43°. John is outside doing various chores and, after loading the back, he just drove the old truck up the driveway to dump snow near a young pine tree. Now he’s headed to the old red barn to make kindling.
I managed to try on 3 sweaters and decided I would give them to a friend a mile away. Now I am loading dishes to soak and then put in the dishwasher.
Next chore is to read my data from my medical devices, store it, and make graphs, alternating with listening to a version of Four In the Morning that two of our guitar players sang for me to record to fit the music score to their voice version. We think we finally have the chord structure in place, and just needed the correct melody for the few of us playing it..
We had a really spectacular sunset tonight, that John called to my attention, as it was “behind” me, outside our back patio door:
God was truly the exquisite landscape painter tonight. It can’t be seen in this photo but the top of Mt Rainier is out there, 63 miles, on the horizon. [summit elevation of 14,417 ft (4,394 m)]
Monday, Jan 25
For Jan 24 CPAP. Reported figures, 6 hrs 36 min with AHI=0.00. Events: 0 H, 0 CSR, 16 RERA. No major mask leaks (max=12 L/min); oximeter on additional time, extra 3 hrs showing a lowered SpO2 to 85%, when CPAP off.
I called Dr. Schmitt’s office about my possible sinus infection, and my doctor recommended I take Amoxicillin 3 times/day for 10 days. I think not, because that is the only antibiotic I’m allowed and I have significant dental work coming up. I do not want to risk affecting the ability of it to protect my blood stream from bacteria entering as happened in 2009 and caused additional heart valve damage. I healed on my own by the end of this week.
Tuesday, Jan 26
For Jan 25 CPAP. Reported figures, 6 hrs 35 min with AHI=0.15. Events: 1 H, 0 CSR, 4 RERA. No major mask leaks (max=12 L/min); oximeter on entire time.
Many of you know that John volunteers work with WTA, and this announcement just appeared on their website today, with a photo he is in, at Crew Leader College in 2015.
Crew Leader College, Mt. Si in the background, photo by Kindra Ramos. John is in the lower right on the ground.
You have seen this photo before in the blog, but here is a link to the reason it appeared today: Boeing Grant to WTA
John has been an assistant crew leader (ACL) working with folks from Boeing a couple times in the past. This grant is for $40,000 for each of the next two years, for WA trail maintenance activities.
I attended Jazzercise today and it was a tough workout, especially considering I have not been since before my surgery, 12/18. I have been hurting for 4 days following. Afterwards, however, I met another gal from the BNE site to deliver three aluminum pans with plastic tops she plans to use with her kids to start seedlings, and act as little greenhouses. This will be a neat experiment. From there, I went by Super 1 for meds and got a real shock at an increase in my co-pay for one of my necessary heart drugs, Telmisartan. Story immediately below my candy-craving statement.
I soothed my sadness shock by stopping by Bi-Mart for Almond Roca on sale.
Here is my note I wrote to my cardiologist’s nurse, Colleen. It is very important for Dr. Kim to consider a switch from Telmisartan (Micardis). Because of a change in “formulary” at Group Health, my co-pay shot up in the “3rd Tier non-preferred drugs” from November ($11.55), to December ($16.45) to January ($68.67) yesterday, for a ONE month’s supply of the drug.
I HOPE there is another drug (doing what I need), in the first tier category that will be less costly for me for this year, please.
I need Dr. Kim’s advice on which other I could substitute, and I will have the pharmacist run the cost from Group Health. I know I need the medication, but $824 seems quite excessive if something else covers the need.
Please advise. I will continue with this month’s supply as I paid for it and cannot return it.
From the Mayo Clinic, I find examples of Angiotensin II receptor blockers include:
Azilsartan (Edarbi)
Candesartan (Atacand)
Eprosartan (Teveten)
Irbesartan (Avapro)
Losartan (Cozaar)
Olmesartan (Benicar)
Telmisartan (Micardis) — costs Nancy $68.67/month /Group Health
Valsartan (Diovan)
I wrote the above and sent as an email at 8:30 a.m., Wednesday morning.
This response arrived at noon, Wednesday, but I’m putting it here with the story.
Nancy, Dr. Kim asked me to look into other sources. There is a program called GoodRx. You pay cash for meds. In researching the site, it is estimated that your cost for Micardis (Telmisartan) 20 mg, # 90 would be $62.90 at Safeway in Ellensburg. I have a coupon for you that I could mail or try to email to you. You may want to look at site first, GOODRx and let me know how you wish to proceed.
See the rest of the story on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, I stopped to get two bags of baby clothes from a BNE gal for our clothing share coming up in March. While in town and so close to Dominoes Pizza, I picked up a free large two-meat pizza from a coupon I won at the New Year’s AAC event earlier in the year. I picked Philly Beef and Pepperoni, and John added sharp cheddar cheese and mushrooms. Here’s the starting and the final product.
Wednesday, Jan 27
For Jan 26 CPAP. Reported figures, 8 hrs 17 min with AHI=1.09. Events: 9 H, 3 CSR, 17 RERA. No major mask leaks (max=17 L/min); oximeter on entire time, with good SpO2 and normal pulse.
I had arranged to pick up my friend Gloria (who is 90), to drive around town with me and visit places I go on Wednesdays. We started by going for me to deliver and pick up some BNE items on our way to the Food Bank.
We arrived at the Food Bank and went inside to join only 3 others for music making (missing our banjo player from illness). Gloria sat at the table in front of us and had lyrics to the songs, so she sang along. First, we were there early to help setup, so I introduced her to people and the staff, and then got her a cup of coffee. She stayed at the table and several people joined her with their food, but I had told her she could sing along and wait to go though the line with us at 12:30, and we’d eat together. We did. Serving today was a choice of pasta (Chicken Alfredo or Tomato w/sausage, or a little of both). I just had the white. We had bread, salad, a piece of raspberry cheesecake, and lemonade. Our table was full of people with connections to West Seattle or Woodinville, and she really enjoyed reminiscing with them. Some of them had been graduated from the same high school, twenty years apart. She was graduated from high school the year I was born. Later the new director joined us (her name is Brooke), and she also had connections to share about West Seattle. I shared my grandmother’s & grandfather’s story about his carpentry on the Smith Tower, and his building a house at the corner of 44th Ave & SW 102nd St, uphill from the Fauntleroy Electric Trolley stop. It is still there and being kept in good condition by the owner’s son, who lives there, and who is a carpenter.
From there on to SAIL, where we had a nice visit with all in the class, and made it through all the exercises.
Continuing from there, I drove south of town to pick up a gift from the BNE site that I’m going to pass along to a friend when the weather is nicer for a photo op, and while on that end of town, I delivered another gift from the BNE site to a woman. It was a book on building a chicken coop that I “won” on the site by giving the best answer. The giver’s challenge was, “Freely given to the person who can give the best reason the chicken crossed the road.” My response was, “Because the chick wanted to be poultry in motion.”
I returned Gloria to her home on my way home. We enjoyed our time together. Her husband used to be in the SAIL exercise class, but now he is in an assisted-living home in a nearby city. He is 93.
Thursday, Jan 28
For Jan 27 CPAP. Reported figures, 8 hrs 58 min with AHI=1.02. Events: 7 H, 2 CSR, 1 CA, 2 PP, 15 RERA. No major mask leaks (max=13 L/min). The extra 1 hr was consistent with high SpO2 and normal pulse.
I took a packing box (my defibrillator’s transmitter arrived in) to Hearthstone today for a BNE person to come by and take away to use. I also took plastic coated hangers to a gal for a project she had in mind. She returned a photo two days later with her creation. Here is my collage of the before and after. She made a holder that also dispensed thread from a large spool.
Below is a photo John found on the web. There are many and some are simple, others fancy and commercial.
This one seems historic and authentic.
Another great gift from the BNE site we picked up today, in the previous house of an old colleague, on Anderson Street. Lauren gave me a brand new Honeywell HEPAClean Table Top Air Purifier that she bought for her husband, who never used it for his allergies. She decided to share it with me rather than let it go to waste. We are going to set it up next to my recliner to provide purified air. I am quite excited.
Friday, Jan 29
For Jan 28 CPAP. Reported figures, 4 hrs 55 min with AHI=2.64 . Events: 12 H, 3 CSR, 1OA, 1 PP, 11 RERA. No major mask leaks (max=18 L/min); oximeter on entire time with nothing out of the ordinary.
We called John’s sister Peggy for a happy birthday wish and found her dealing with a Raspberry insurrection. We think that is what she said, but it could have been a respiratory infection. It didn’t make any sense to us, either. So we hung up.
John and I dressed in our sports team colors and went to a Sportzpalooza at the Ellensburg Adult Activity Center, a special party they have each year with trivia games, a meal, and fun. I have become the designated photographer while the staff keeps all the food, fellowship, and organization happening. The organizers were hoping the Seattle team would be playing in Super Bowl 50, so there was some disappointment.
There are usually many Seahawk fans there, so I dressed in their team colors and wore my vintage Seattle Seahawks cap. John wore his Phillies jacket (although he was, in another life, really a Pirates fan), and with all the snow falling, I forgot to give him my Chicago Cubs hat to match. Next year. He also has a Broncos tee shirt, and he should have worn it. I got the jacket in a Goodwill “all that will fit in the bag for $5” sale.
I will add a few pictures I took or were taken on my camera (as below):
John & Nancy with David Douglas (Hawkman), the MC, and husband of Katrina the director. I ducked my head so you could see the Seattle Seahawks. This is one of the better photos of John. Cannot usually get him to smile in photos. Also, I have on exercise pants, with a bright green and white stripe on both sides of the navy blue pants, and my tops are team colors too. We are standing in front of a game board used after we ate to play, for points with answering sports trivia questions, in the categories of WHO, WHAT, WHERE.
Our table was picked first to go to the buffet – there was lots to eat, all prepared by the staff and volunteers in the small in-building kitchen.
See the video of that excitement, lead by Hawkman 12. [Seattle fans are referred to as the 12th man on the field. The team colored ’12’ signs are everywhere in town and throughout Washington.]
Our Sportzpalooza Table Picked to Start . . . Our Table
They fed us a baked potato buffet with chili, steamed broccoli, chives, cheese, real cooked bacon (not bits), and sour cream. The salad was made with the Seahawks colors: Green Jello, with mandarin oranges, blueberries, and bananas.
More fun from MC, David Douglas, as Hawkman
The rest of the story will be in collages below:
Olivia and David (Hawkman) and the rest of the staff serving lunch – Alice, Katrina, Carly, and Tina, at the Baked Potato Buffet Bar.
John’s serving – note Seahawk Salad colors.
A bunch of tables (not all), check out the video. Left are the staff and the Douglas family; middle are others there, including Sandra, Myrna, and Mary Ann; right are Pat & Richard, and three members of the Platz family.
Pat Carney (AAC Board Member) top left. Top right is the results of our table’s second place finishing (1100) after the Platz table’s win at 1600 points. The bottom tier is the MC entertaining the crowd, while the staff gets the food ready to serve.
Just as we started eating, Starla Lynn brought me a dozen green & brown eggs and picked up a bag of cartons I had for her. She’s the one I gifted the book, Building Chicken Coops, mentioned on Wednesday’s entry.
On our way home, we stopped near the hospital to pick up a Bionaire humidifier from Kristina, that her mom had given her. They used it a few days and then it has been sitting for a long time. It is a 2008 model and looks new.
Saturday, Jan 30
For Jan 29 CPAP. Reported figures, 3 hrs 52 min with AHI=0.52 . Events: 2 H, 1 CSR, 2 PP, 7 RERA. No major mask leaks (max=9 L/min); forgot to start my oximeter so no results.
Whenever John starts or adds to the wood stove there is a bit of smoke and gases let into the room. The main AC/furnace fan cleans it up rapidly but he tries to distract me with food. Just now he cooked brunch for us, of an omelet type fold over, special broiled toasted roll part, hash browns, and bacon. We need to read the directions and get both the air filter and humidifier operating.
Here are my captures of the fire through chimney smoke visualization:
Shadow Chimney Smoke – 1 Direction
Note the activity in the next one with two directions.
Watch and listen as a log shifts and bumps a burst of smoke out the chimney. When the stove is hot enough there is a handle that closes a vent and thus runs the smoke through a catalytic combustor. In that mode there is nothing to see coming out the flue, but there is some water vapor and it can play with the sunlight. If there is sunlight.
Shadow Chimney Smoke – 2 Directions
I’ve worked on getting rid of extra clothing via Buy Nothing Ellensburg. I found a recipient for a Filson wool hunting cap with flaps that did not fit me, and will go to a young man who got his first elk on the last day of hunting season last year. I hope to meet him tomorrow when his step father comes to retrieve it. John also brought in one of his and my favorites, a nice shirt that is too tight for him. It is a men’s Large, in excellent shape. I also got rid of a lined straw basket, and am working on some other containers, in addition to more shirts John presented me with this morning.
Sunday, Jan 31
For Jan 30 CPAP. Reported figures 5 x hrs 3 min with AHI=0.99. Events: 5H, 0 CSR, 6 RERA. No major mask leaks (max=15 L/min); oximeter on entire time and additional 3 hrs.with high SpO2 and normal pulse.
Plans today include a visit from a BNE recipient of my Filson hunting cap. I have probably had it over a decade. It was too small, even though marked large. To decide who gets things on BNE, we ask for a number, need, or story. I asked for a number, who would be wearing it, and a story of interest. This came back: # = 32. My stepson, Gus. I have been taking us hunting for a couple of years and this was the first year he was successful, got a cow elk on the last day. His hunting coat is a black and grey plaid double mackinaw cruiser (Filson) and he has grey Wilson hunting pants. All he needs is this hat and he will be set. Willing to repost on BNE if he does not like it.
This was the picture I posted with my search for a new owner:
I found today that the name of the hat I had and gave him is a Double Mackinaw one, so that really completes his outfit.
Here is Gus, the happy recipient. Nice kid, with red hair !! Like in John’s family on both sides. Maybe he is related.
Gus wore it home and on the way told his dad he thought it was “cool,” but it was too hot to wear in the truck. Once home, he packed it away with his hunting clothes for the fall. I found out his birthday is Feb. 13, so this will be a “double” nice gift.
Today is sunny, but chilly. Not as much as Antarctica, most likely… referring to news from Mérida, a former student here at CWU who became a long-distance friend. She was raised in southern Chile and after being here, she has been in Santiago for 2 decades. International students of CWU held a dinner of national foods and Mérida came out here and we made empanada de manzanas (apple turnovers) with her mother’s recipe.
Here is Mérida’s view of Antarctica:
John, Nancy Hello!!!
I just had the trip of a life time….we went to the Antarctica! Really unique!
A duty trip (now in January summer time) where eight of us had to inspect the place for the projects we are working on. We spent 24 hours there (stayed over a night …by the way there was no night at this time of the year. At 11 pm, 3 am, etc., it was bright as the day…)
We stayed at one of our Chilean bases: Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva, the only one which has a runway and from which every international base depends on. In other words the only runway in the South Pole!!
Here, sending you some pictures:
Me saying hello from with the Antarctica sign (to prove I was there and not in Alaska, ha, ha!!)
A tree, today a stone. When the continents got apart the forests did too. Later glaciers, eruptions, etc., made them disappear. I send you this picture because I thought you may find it interesting.
A panoramic view from the aircraft (C-130) arriving at King George Island where most of the international bases are, including ours with our runway.
Me in the area and the team.
Me and the penguins and a penguin which I forgot to ask if it was Emperor or other… sorry.
Hope you enjoy them.
Love,
Mérida
And, here are my collages of her photos after her panoramic entrance:
Mérida and the petrified wood.
Penquins, the team, and Mérida (smallest in height on the team).
Her jacket has a simple version of the Chilean Air Force coat of arms:
Hope your week was fine.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan