Monday, Oct 10
For Oct 9 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 1.28. Events: 1 CSR, 1 CA, 8 H, 16 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 2 min with (max= 22L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 one blip to low 84, probably moving from finger, with avg. 91.7%.
We got ready go for toenails trimming, arriving at 10:45, but we were not seen until 11:00 a.m. We checked by Safeway for drinks and the dark meat chicken Monday special, and on to deliver something to a friend in Rosewood.
I sent a message about the count for Meadows Thursday, and have heard back from 7 people, fewer than needed. I have to arrange in advance how many armless chairs they will put out for us.
I wrote some needed emails, but I need to read more on a master’s thesis (my last one to serve on the committee) – been retired for 6 years! This defense is Nov 14. My annual physical is the next day; hope this defense does not raise my blood pressure.
Home for lunch and a few things, and back over through Kittitas to pick apples – apples and a nice pizza dinner with Tanya, Andrew, Jessica, Michael, and a friend.
This was early on with John picking and then I joined in awhile.
Here you see Honeycrisp very close to the ground and with white powder on them to protect against sunburn, which makes a dark orange skin injury. I should have taken a photo of that phenomenon.
These were taken on my walk back to the house with Michael, age 5. The western clouds were rather foreboding, but John and the others picking from part of the orchard I had been, moved to where the Galas were, and picked a few boxes of them (probably John will use for making nice red applesauce). They did not get rained on. We had been scheduled to pick yesterday, but the rains came instead and kept us away.
After taking pictures and changing to picking lower apples, my shoulder and back started bothering me, so I went back to the house to play checkers with 5-year old, Michael. I have not played checkers in over 58 years, I suspect, but it all came back. I had fun trying to advise him how to look ahead and anticipate what a move might cause to happen in subsequent moves. I would not let him make a move that would result in a “jump,” if a safe move still existed on the board. I would explain what his proposed move would set up, but I would not tell him where to move. He had to find that. If he said, can you jump me if I move here, I would say, no. Or yes, possibly later, if that was the case, and see if he could tell me why.
On our way to pick apples, we had stopped in Kittitas to pick up ASL stuff for a friend who lives 2 miles from me, and while there, we got some tomatoes for us.
By the time we returned, it was dark, and we found two cats waiting to be fed. Two were missing; however, now both Rascal and Sue returned, so all are fed and accounted for.
Tuesday, Oct 11
For Oct 10 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI: 0.53 Events: 4 H, 24 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 34 min with (max= 9 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 one blip to low 86 with avg. 91.9%.
We left at 9:00 to go to the Retired Geographers’ meeting at Hearthstone. We left at 10:30 to get back for our 11:00 meeting with Rose Shriner from the Kittitas County Conservation District (KCCD) about fire-wise issues. While at the meeting, we discussed having Rose (a former CWU Geography student), come speak to the group at our December 13th meeting. I could invite her then, with their permission.
When Rose arrived at our house for our fire-wise discussion, she brought along a colleague, Lance, and the two of them walked around the parts of our property to assess the thinning and brushing John has been up to for several years. They have to assess if we are eligible for a chipping crew to come into our property to chip the huge piles of brush that have accumulated. We qualify, but it won’t likely happen until next year.
We began on a walk through the woods behind our house (northwest side of our property). The prior owner had a big “pond” bulldozed behind the house and next to the creek. When the water is high in the creek, the pond has water; otherwise it is dry and we call it Jay’s folly. It grows a lot of brush and trees (fuel) close to the house. We talked about that.
These are behind our house. She discussed the spacing desired between the trees. John has been working on that, because we have attended a fire-wise workshop, have the literature, and know the recommendations.
Rose talking with me and John about the rules of the clearing for fire-wise protection around our house and creek, and the possible need to ask for an amendment to the floodplain map. This is called submitting a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA).
The left shows a dead tree next to the creek but not close enough to hit the house if it falls, and the right photo shows Tamaracks too close to our house that need to be removed. We planted them for shade and because we like them. Behind them but a little farther away from the house are Carpathian walnut trees (see below). We planted many trees (spruce, pines [Austrian and Pondersosa]) lining our driveway that we obtained from the tree and plant sale at the KCCD, where John once volunteered. John, via KCCD, also obtained the Carpathian walnut trees that are not native to here, and so not part of the plant sale. The nursery, in Plains, Montana, does not usually sell to retail customers.
Our Carpathian Walnut trees. On their tour Rose and Lance were happy to see all the results of the Roy Bach Plant sale through the years; now suspended, maybe temporarily.
As we walked around, our Brittany, Annie, was with us, and she went over, picked up a fully in-husk walnut, and proceeded to crack and eat the nut.
These brush piles are on the NE part of our property. The left photo one shows our neighbors’ barns in the background, so this is near the end of our driveway. The right photo shows our driveway in the foreground and 3 brush piles behind; in addition, the entrance to our pasture and the back of our house, shows a new access drive we put in for firefighting reasons to give ingress and exit for a Mini-Pumper or Quick Attack Units.
The original driveway does not have enough room to turn around. In case of a fire, properties/houses are flagged (not to be protected) if safety of the fire crew is questionable. We need a couple of truck loads of rock/gravel to make the roads look like roads – but the space is there. Next year we hope to finish a complete loop around the buildings.
After our visit, I was due in town for exercise, and I stopped by Bi-Mart to check our number; won nothing.
I carried a wine box of Galas and Honeycrisp to the AAC for Jazzercise and for others there using the senior center. Returned a printed copy of something I already had for SAIL, and borrowed a booklet with a discussion of the specific exercises from them that I do not have access to, never taking the instruction class for teaching SAIL (Stay Active and Independent for Life). I will copy it to share with my physical therapist. Two of us went through the Jazzercise class today at 2:00. Then I left for Goodwill (10% off for Seniors on Tuesdays). I found a nice pair of rubber-soled bedroom shoes to use to replace the ones I wore a hole in. They are a little tight so I willl have to wear smaller socks. They are lined, but I don’t think I want to use them barefooted.
Checked by the Food Bank bread room – good sweets found that we had for dessert. Tuesday is a good day, because it is open all day, and when I’m there to play music on Wednesday, it is already closed. We have been encouraged to take up to 5 items because once delivered there, it has already reached the sale by date, and if it molds, they have to trash it. Now that cooler weather is back, it is better and lasts longer.
Wednesday, Oct 12
For Oct 11 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.00 Events: 1 CSR, 0 H, 14 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 31 min with (max= 10 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 one blip to low 86, with avg. 91.1%.
I picked up Gloria for our trip to the Food Bank and to SAIL class, and while there picked up food for my neighbor.
Once home, I worked on critiquing a master’s thesis.
I washed dishes and went to bed. I have an irritating cough.
Thursday, Oct 13
For Oct 12 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 0.16 Events: 1 H, 12 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 8 min with (max= 13 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 one blip to low 87, spurious to 80, with avg. 92.1%.
Play at 2:00 p.m. at Meadows Place.
I had to spend time AGAIN (third time is a charm), straightening out the delivery of the WSJ. I cannot believe they have screwed it up so royally.
John drove me to the Thursday music, carried some apples for two guys living alone, went to Bi-Mart and the grocery store, and came back to pick me up. We had 12 members there today, including our 3-year old dancer. Good appreciative audience.
Friday, Oct 14
For Oct 13 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 0.15. Events: 1 H, 1 PP, 6 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 44 min with (max= 14 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 one blip to low 85, with avg. 90.5%.
I called my doctor and his nurse returned my phone call after I had checked with my pharmacist about her recommendation for something over the counter to use that would not conflict with my heart medications. They both agreed the Musinex DM, one every 12 hrs. is safe for me and would help my condition. I surely hope so.
On my way to town, I drove to Kittitas to check out the new clothing/food pantry, because I heard they had some bedroom slippers there. I found two pair to carry away, and also donated some winter boots I had that I don’t use much. They were too light, suede, and high with a zipper in the back. While there I found a western shirt for John, mostly greenish. It has a small hole (dog chew, or something) on the tail that will get tucked in. Still, we’ll iron on a patch to keep it from enlarging.
I drove to my pharmacy (at Super 1 grocery store), and realized too late I did not remember my wallet. I went in anyway, and the pharmacist (my friend a long time previous to her job there), said she would loan me the money for the OTC med. Then she helped me find it, when I returned to ask if there wasn’t a Western Family brand that was cheaper. John had told me to look for that. She couldn’t find it either, but this was on a special $5.00 off, so I bought it. I will pay her back when I’m in town tomorrow.
On my way home, I carried slippers for a woman’s grandson. John bought 2 pairs from a catalogue but different patterns. That wasn’t all that was different – this pair did not fit – too small.
I tried them but they were too big, even with bulky socks. That’s why we gave them away.
Interestingly, the recipients live in the house of friends from our past. They had 4 apple trees but didn’t know names except the yellow delicious. I wrote my friends an email and found out they planted the trees, and there are Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Jonathan, and Jonagold apples. So I was able to find out what the apples are in their backyard to tell them. The former owners even offered to come by and tag the trees, if I would give the original owner their email. I had to find out and then did. I only had a phone contact.
Now I have to get to work on my critiquing a master’s thesis.
Saturday, October 15
For Oct 14 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 0.00. Events: 0 CSR, 0 H, 0 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 53 min with (max= 9 L/min). Oximetry: Was only on from 1:00 (didn’t turn it on correctly), and spurious 49 low from a finger change lowered the avg. SpO2 to 89.6%. I will ignore last night’s Oximetry and go with the perfect CPAP reading of AHI=0.00.
Heading to town for music at Briarwood. My cough is better but I’m still rather hoarse, so I probably won’t be singing along. I stopped by and paid back my pharmacist for covering my charges yesterday, when I forgot my wallet.
We had a nice time at Briarwood, today, with a large audience, and players: Manord (Joy in the audience singing), Gerald, Charlie (those three on guitar), Evie and me on fiddles and Amy playing the first violin part, and Haley dancing. Maury was expected, but a bull Elk got gored by another and picked Maury’s yard to die in. He had to stay to talk with the game warden. Unfortunately, it took him long to get there and so the meat was tainted by the time they opened him and gutted him. Otherwise, Maury would have been happy to fill his freezer.
I was not in good shape with my no voice and cough. I have taken 3 of the new medication and will have another before bedtime tonight. It seems to have lessened my coughing, but I still need the lozenges. It also has the product of increasing my phlegm expectorant. I guess that’s good before it goes to my lungs.
We were treated afterwards to nice meal: ham & bean soup, an apple cake with ice cream (I passed); three types of sandwiches: deviled ham, egg salad, and chicken salad, grapes, chocolate, cookies, cucumbers, and hot cider. Today was Gerald and Jeanne’s 67 wedding anniversary and five in the audience had October birthdays, so we sang Happy Birthday and congratulated Gerald, our guitarist.
I came home to this Facebook message and link from a former undergraduate geography student at Central before 1997, Lori Rome, who worked at several US National parks, including a long stint at the Grand Canyon, then went (with her husband) to Paris for a job for a couple years, toured all over France and several more countries, and now has returned to Arlington, VA, where she works for the American Battle Monuments Commission. Interesting gal.
Here’s the link to follow if you have a Facebook account, to see the animation of the Mississippi River watershed unfold in front of you with illustrative graphics.
Lori Rome and the video she sent (ending). Lori is famous for this:
Or watch her here:
The Adventures of Salt and Soap
I am honored that she sent me a copy of her book, signed.
How special !!
Speaking of great animations, here is another site you can reach without being on Facebook.
Blow ye wind, blow
Last night when we visited this view, at 10:20 p.m., Oct 15, 2016, here’s what we saw. Check it out today. It’s still rather active, but here is from last night. Move the image eastward in the animated version to see the outline and orient yourself.
Still view of the winds off the coast and inland to the western U.S.
Sunday, Oct 16
For Oct 15 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 0.00. Events: x CSR, x H, x RERA. Insufficient time on 3 hrs 43 min with (max= 1 L/min). I awoke with congestion at 3:30 a.m., and removed the CPAP mask. I left on my oximeter, however. Oximetry: SpO2 several blips to lows between 80-82, in a 13 minute period after 6:13 a.m. with avg. 88.1%. The rest of the night it hovered around 88%.
40% chance of showers today, but we have blue skies now. At noon, it is clouding over.
Waiting for John to return for lunch and to put in time on the blog, if/when it starts raining. I have filing, scanning, dishes, and clothes to do, and then to get back to thesis critiquing. May have to push off some of all that to tomorrow. At least the blog is done for another week.
Hope your week was fine.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan