Monday, August 8
For Aug 7 CPAP. Reported figures. Time on 7 hrs 42 min with AHI=0.78. Events: 0 CSR, 6 H, 11 RERA. No mask leaks (max= 20 L/min). Oximetry: all good
We both went to the foot doctor for toenail trimming (covered by Medicare), to Super 1 for groceries, by the Kittitas Medical Supply Company to deliver a 1/2-gallon plastic container of Dahlias to the staff there, whom I see every 3 months for new CPAP supplies (filters, tubing and mask). On the final leg home, we stopped near the airport to pick up a battery-operated alarm clock from the free BNEE site. It has been a nice back up for early morning departures for John in case the electricity goes off in the middle of the night. We already took advantage of it this week, and he reset for me to get up after he had left (tomorrow a.m.).
John helped Dale Swedberg get small drill bits for working to remove an oil filter, and gave him a container of diesel to help with the fix up of his folks’ old motor home. It is the same year as our travel trailer (TT), 1983. Since we got ours, it has been under cover, but it was out in a lot prior to our buying it, but may have been under a roof earlier. The metal siding looks better than the one Dale is working on.
Tuesday, Aug 9
For Aug 8 CPAP. Reported figures. Time on 6 hrs 14 min with AHI=0.32. Events: 1 CSR, 1 H, 1 OA, 5 RERA. No mask leaks (max= 6 L/min). Oximetry: it was fine all night.
John left very early for a trail called Greenwater Lakes. This was a new trail for him, and the only reason he went. While I don’t have any pictures of that day’s work, I will include the “cover” photo from the new Orange Hat On-line report for Assistant Crew Leaders. WTA has used this photo from a crosscut saw training session. Blue Hat is Mason (Mace) White. Lauren Glass (under bucking – saw coming up from under the tree) has a new orange hat – John’s and Rick Zitsmann’s have the dull patina of many days in the sun. WTA provides new ones about every 10 years.
This morning, I had a nice meeting with a few of the retired CWU Geography profs and heard/saw a presentation by Jim Huckabay (also a retired Geographer). It was of his recent trip to South Africa, where he shot a Warthog and a Springbok and saw much other wildlife. He was there with long time friends on a 10-day Safari where he and others actually lived in the fancy house of an African and his wife, and they hunted with a PH (professional hunter) from the area. Jim provided a picturesque and enjoyable education.
I made two collages below of the animals mentioned above. Info is from the web.
First the Warthog:
Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)
Warthogs are day animals and spend most of their time looking for food. They are normally found in family groups. Warthogs have the peculiar habit of kneeling on the front knees while feeding and foraging in a localized area. They shelter in burrows at night, which they enter tail first. Socially, three main groups are encountered, namely solitary boars, bachelor groups and matriarchal groups. Matriarchal groups consist of adult sows with their young and yearlings. Boars play no part in rearing piglets and seldom associate with sows outside the mating process. Warthogs can frequently be found at waterholes where they dig in the marsh and wallow in the mud with enthusiasm.
Lastly, the regal and beautiful, Springbok, the National animal of South Africa.
The Springbok (Afrikaans: spring = jump; bok = antelope, deer, or goat) (Antidorcas marsupialis) is a small brown and white gazelle that stands about 75 cm high (30 inches). The males can weigh up to 50 kg (110 pounds) and the females up to 37 kg. The Latin name marsupialis derives from a pocket-like skin flap which extends along the middle of the back on to the tail. The springbok can lift this flap, which makes the white hairs underneath stand up in a conspicuous ‘fan’. That’s shown in the photo on the right.
Typical of this species is the pronk (jumping display), which led to its common name. Both sexes have horns but those of the ram are thicker and rougher. This species has adapted to the dry, barren areas and open grass plains and is thus found especially in the Free State, North West province and in the Karoo up to the west coast of South Africa.
I took plain donuts I frosted with chocolate frosting and sprinkled chopped pecans on top for our treat with coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. At 11:00, I came home to fix lunch and change clothes to go to my Jazzercise class, with 4 participants, and a new routine. I followed with my Physical Therapy session. I have to wear a tank top for that work. It was painful, but necessary, and a little improvement was noted on a few ranges of motion. Deanna was my therapist and gave me nice information and evaluation explanations as she worked. At least there was no backsliding in my angle measurements, as had occurred in my previous visit, last Friday. I only am able to go Tuesdays and Fridays each week. Upcoming oral surgery the end of August will hamper that schedule.
I carried by music for Tim and Roberta (occasional participants in our music group), because I had run a copy for them of our August/September playlist, and they will also be participating in the August 20th Rodeo/Fair Kick-Off Breakfast. For that venue, we will do selected songs from our Aug/Sept playlist, and we will add a few from a previous last year’s listing that includes cowboy, country, and western songs appropriate for the occasion.
Wednesday, Aug 10
For Aug 9 CPAP. Reported figures. Time on 8 hrs 6 min with AHI=0.12. Events: 3 CSR, 1 H, 17 RERA. No mask leaks (max= 7 L/min). Oximetry: all right, but had it off part of the night.
Today, I had to get our payment off an old American Express card from Costco, changed to CITI Visa card, and set up auto payment from there. This was for our yearly fee for AAA road insurance on our vehicles. I missed that it was being paid there, and when Costco switched, none of the automatic withdrawals any longer worked. I think those should have been processed as all the other expenses were on the transfer. I thought I had caught them all, but missed this. It is fixed with no problem now. I hope there’s not another outlier I missed. Good we were not gone on a long trip. The mail came with a 10-day deadline or we would no longer have the service available.
Today I left with a few things for the Food Bank. I finally found a person to give a gym bag to that I found and have never used. I tried giving it away on the BNE site to no avail. In addition, I fixed up music for the group at the Food Bank to try today to get some cowboy tunes in the mix for the upcoming Kick off breakfast for our Rodeo and Fair. We get a free breakfast between our 2 sets on stage.
Food bank did not have a great meal today for me but I carried along some of my tuna/egg salad I made yesterday, and was happy for it. The salad had all stuff (except carrots and a little red pepper), that was green and I could not eat … spinach, Romaine lettuce, other types of dark greens, and the other “salad” was shredded zucchini in vinegar, which I didn’t want either. Mostly it looked like shredded skins of the zucchini. I chose a nice piece of chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and did not realize until I sat down and saw other folks’ that they had German chocolate cake as well that I would have preferred.
From there I was off to SAIL exercise class, having a full class with a new member. I brought home two cookies and 3 ears of corn someone had donated to the senior center. John and I split the corn over 3 dinners.
On my way back to drop Gloria off at her home, I stopped by and filled my car with gasoline. Of course, a day later, they lowered the price a few cents/gallon. Story of my life. John is driving his car tomorrow to let me off to play music and we also will be delivering a bunch of dahlias to the AAC for a going away party for another AmeriCorps person from Portland who has been with us for a 10.5 months. We will miss her. The party is not until Friday, but having them ahead will allow them to put them in vases on tables and counters. And John will be gone early on Friday, so of no help.
Thursday, August 11
For Aug 10 CPAP. Reported figures. Time on 6 hrs 40 min with AHI=0.00. Events: 0 CSR, 0 H, 13 RERA. No mask leaks (max= x 8/min). Oximetry: perfect all night.
I fixed music to take to a few for the Aug 20 and now have to change to a different copy, on Saturday and for the future. We realized that some of the original playlist needed to be put off until we learn it better.
As planned, we delivered 2 buckets of Dahlias, and 2 Gladioli, to AAC with an added small container of our yellow plums.
John picked cherry tomatoes for Gerald, who was was happy to receive them. We have been enjoying tomatoes and plums too.
Friday, August 12
For Aug 11 CPAP. Reported figures. Time on 5 hrs 46 min with AHI=0.52. Events: 1 CSR, 3 H, 11 RERA. No mask leaks (max= 7 L/min). Oximetry:
John left at 5:30 a.m. for trail work at Mt. Rainier. Parking was at Sunrise, 6,400 feet, walk was a mile, up to 6,700 feet. They moved big rocks and many buckets of sandy/gravel to make steps where folks have been having a hard time negotiating a sloping rock. They were on the Sourdough Ridge Trail. He didn’t make it home until 7:00 p.m. I was up early with him and stayed up to do a bunch of chores.
First wildlife view was of one of the fawns and his mom chowing down on raspberry cuttings John took out from our back fenced yard. This collage was taken at 6:10 a.m.
John trimmed some of the long Raspberry canes and tossed them out back under Pine trees. The deer soon found them. Note the dark patch on Mamma’s face in front of the eye. The second fawn, back to the left where the mother is looking, came over as the first one moved away.
I contacted the College Subscription Service and we are now set for getting the Smithsonian for another year for $12.00. They cannot process a subscription for more than one year, but I know the service rep’s private extension and can call each year to renew. She has been around for several years.
When my friend in New Jersey heard about our dog Annie’s seizure, she told me that she had used Niacinamide to treat her 7 year old dog, successfully, and that it is cheaper and less hard on the liver than Phenobarbital. She told me to research it and check with my vet.
When I got to nearly needing a refill, I called this morning and asked for a consultation with my veterinarian. She called me back and we had a nice discussion. I explained that I had checked on line and found nothing about using it for seizures. It is used for all sorts of things in humans, but not seizures. She appreciated knowing what had been used on my friend’s dog, but she said she had never heard of that use. She also said that because my dog was responding well to the medication and had had no reoccurrences or apparent side effects from the drug, that she saw no reason to stop using it.
She acknowledged the cost was higher than she expected. I told her I would search around for the best price and get back to her and the staff for the next client with the same need.
Niacinamide is a compound C6H6N2O of the vitamin B complex found especially as a constituent of coenzymes and used similarly to niacin.
I found a cheaper (by month) of the Phenobarbital at Rite Aid (at half the price I recently paid at my pharmacy). I still need to check around to see prices at all local pharmacies. Rite Aid is listed on the GoodRx website with the best price, but in contacting them to set up an account and take in my coupon for the “good” prices, they said they would not honor the coupon, because it cost them the difference, as they are not reimbursed by GoodRx. Still their regular price for a month of the Phenobarbital was half what I paid last month. They did not have 90 tablets in stock, and it is cheaper per pill to buy a larger quantity of any drug. If Annie is still doing fine at the end of this bottle, I will give the pharmacy advanced notice to order a larger supply. The prescription was written for 6 months, and I have used only one month of the new script. Keeping up with animals’ meds and my own is a full-time job. The GoodRx issue bothered me because I use that for my Telmisartan, and save a ton by paying cash at another different pharmacy in town. I checked and I am still eligible for that savings (which is significant). I pay for 90 tablets what I paid for 30 with my insurance co-pay. I do NOT understand the difference in cost for the exact same medicine.
I went to Carly’s going-away party with my camera. Everyone appreciated John’s Dahlias and Gladioli. I should have taken a pitcher of them into the picture of me with Carly, but I didn’t. Anne loved them and she would have enjoyed holding a vase, I am sure. Oh well. I have photos of them on the counter, and many comments to share with John.
I went by Safeway on the way home and bought a ton of stuff at good sale prices. Got potato chips low salt on sale for $1.00, and there was a digital app price for people with smart phones (which I do not have). I had asked previously for the price, and was given it. I did today and got the chips for $ .79 /bag. Then I bought a special of dark meat (4 thighs / 4 legs) for $5.00 with crispy fried batter. This was a Friday special. Went for John’s colas and found 4 for only 79 cents each 2-liter size. I left my coupon at home, but found a paper at the front of the store with one and got Bumblebee White Tuna for $.58 / can, (limit 6). That is my standby for lunches away from home, and today, realizing I wouldn’t be able to eat the green salad, I took a small portion of my tuna fish/egg salad I had made.
Below are a few photos at the party and below that are a couple of video clips.
We started at 11:30 a.m. and had a few beginning presentations, then were served a lunch (Pizza on English Muffin, green salad, and banana/chocolate pudding or fruit for dessert. Then we had fun passing the microphone for accolades and memories of Carly and how much she’s meant to us all. I videotaped almost all of them to give to Carly as a going away present.
This was a gift of a picture photograph book that Katrina, the Director (on the left) made with photos of all the events, classes, and associated activities at our center she participated in, or lead, over her time here.
Above, I’m on the left with Carly Waymire and Anne Engels, and on the right is one of the vases of flowers that John picked and we delivered the day before. The Dahlias and Gladioli he planted, grew, and harvested. Some other things were added but I don’t have names.
Here are three of my chosen videos for the day:
Katrina Douglas about Carly & Carly Presents Her Story
Katrina Presents a Gift Book of Photos to Carly
Accolade: Audience sings, You Are My Sunshine, Carly
After the party, I stuck around to write my note in the book gifted to her, picked up the two 5-gallon buckets we delivered the flowers in yesterday, put in a few minutes in the computer room, visited with some others, and stayed for 45 minutes of my SAIL exercise class. It was the last class Carly taught. I left early to get to my physical therapy appointment which was earlier than normally on Fridays.
Saturday, August 13
For Aug 12 CPAP. Reported figures. Time on 5 hrs 19 min with AHI=0.56. Events: 1 CSR, 2 H, 1 OA, 2PP, 13 RERA. No mask leaks (max= 19 L/min). Oximetry: Fine all night.
I did the music changes for those expected there today, and I will run off more next week to give out to the rest of the people and audience.
We went to Briarwood. We ended up with 8 players there today. John took a tire from the travel trailer to Les Schwab after letting me off at Briarwood. We stayed to eat a bite of late lunch they potluck for us to say thanks for the music. It was largely salads, with hot rolls, cheese, and dessert. Very good. Afterwards, we went by to pick up the repaired tire.
One of our TT tires lost air and only held air for 3 days when John pressurized. Les Schwab (Konner, actually as Les died in 2007) repaired it, but they think all the rims (manufactured in 1982) need to be refinished. Rim refinishing includes preparation, iron phosphate bath, powder paint application, and oven curing. So the TT will have to be up on blocks for a week while the rims get sent (don’t know where) for their rehabilitation, and a color change. More later on this – ’cause who knew?
I worked on the blog some, on pictures taken at yesterday’s going-away party, and on future music to Xerox for the changes for this coming Saturday and also until the end of September. It won’t be much, but it is easier for me to Xerox them for the few people who will need them, rather than print them myself or send them to some of the other players to print. I have to go in to add 6 songs to the current audience copies.
Sunday, August 14
For Aug 13 CPAP. Reported figures. Time on 5 hrs 45 min with AHI=0.52. Events: 1 CSR, 3 H, 8 RERA. No mask leaks (max= 10 L/min). Oximetry: Battery ran out at X hours, but was fine for the rest of the night.
I was dead tired last night at midnight, and then this morning, having been up at 3:30 a.m. with the dog, at 6:00 a.m. with John, I went back to bed until almost 9:00. Guess I needed it. Okay, John fed Woody on his trip out, and Lemon was waiting when I finally got up, so I fed him. It is already 79° on our front porch, and 81° at the airport. It went to 97° at the airport today, 9 degrees higher than forecast. I spent the day working on dishes, photos, blog, and a few other things – not getting to all I needed to accomplish.
John made it home earlier than I expected, but he was dead tired too, so he rested for almost 2 hours. Now he’s out feeding the horses. After we eat, he will try to put this into Word Press, and we will proof it, and publish.
Hope your week was fine.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan