Sunday, Jun 2
We’ll start this week, by going back to photos taken May 18, when John participated in two days of WTA Crew Leader College in North Bend, WA.
Crew Leader College, Hats on and Hats off, Mount Si
From the North Bend High School
More WTA Information on Mount Si Trail
Still finishing some follow-up reports and videos from last week:
This is a compilation of materials to set the stage for the field trip to the central Columbia River area (just east of us), conducted by Nick Zentner. [John says: In geologic terms this part of Washington is young. The rocks seen on this trip are all under 16 Million years old. By comparison, we were raised in a landscape of over 300 My, with the rocks much older. The mid-Washington landscape has been shaped by the Ice Age Floods, all less than 20,000 years old. The ice sheet stopped about 40 miles north of the sites along this field trip.]
Nancy: I’m adding information at the beginning of this report that will catch people up to speed to have all the graphics, photos, diagrams, and maps that were in the Field Trip Guide for people on the trip. I never did hear how many people participated, but I think we had ~30 vehicles after we added joiners at the first two stops.
First, is from Nick Zentner’s own website, which is certainly worth a visit, if you have not seen it before. The base entry point is at www.nickzentner.com
More about the Wenatchee June 2, 2019 Geology Field Trip, at another place on his site with the detailed notes and images from all his field trips.
Obtain Field Trip Guide for June 2, 2019 Wenatchee Geology
Click on the image of Wenatchee June 2019 (with locations of the 4 stops) to get the complete field trip guide, downloaded as a PDF.
Folks on the trip studied the pages throughout the stops. It will help to have them handy to view as you watch the videos at all 4 stops. Below is the second page of the booklet, which outlines the itinerary of the day.
We have videos of something at all the 4 stops. 
Stop 1: Crescent Bar – Wenatchee Geology 2019
Stop 2: Sunrise Lane – Wenatchee Geology 2019
Stop 3: Colockum Road, Plat Lot 5 – Wenatchee Geology 2019
Stop 4a: Saddle Rock Trailhead – Wenatchee Geology 2019
Stop 4b: Saddle Rock Questions & Answers
Our view walking to the shelter that was uphill on our left.
Drone view of Saddle Rock from Motojw Photography; this site is just 22 miles from home, but takes about 2 hours to reach by car.
Here’s a follow-up comment about Stemilt/Malaga Landslide, which we talked about but never had a good view of, because of the number of people needing a place to park the many vehicles. You may find this of interest:
Another’s Report of the Stemilt/Malaga Landslide
First, we all want to thank Nick Zentner organizing and conducting this field trip. Thanks to Karl Lillquist for filling in information on landslides and info in several other instances. Thanks as well to all the participants who offered good questions and food for thought.
I want to thank my newly found friend from this trip, Debbie Doran, from the west side (all the way from Gig Harbor, with her husband, Mike). They are avid followers of Nick’s lectures, field trips, and other presentations (such as the Premiere Showing of this year’s Nick on the Rocks programs). I met them at Stop 2, after walking in about half way, and deciding I was not able to make it, so I stopped Debbie on my way out, handed her my camera, and she took it with her to film the lecture at Stop 2.
Sorry it’s taken me so long to process all this for people along on the trip. I hope you have some use for checking back on something you might want to remember. I also apologize for not being as close up at Stop 3, and I explain in the description what happened.
From the above, I am able to show John the Field Trip experience which he normally would be participating in, but today was the final day of WTA’s re-route on the Manastash Ridge Trail. {Fall work? Maybe.} My picks from the photos of the trail reroute are below.
Hats off Work Crew June 1st. Youngest worker: front, in blue.
Oldest worker: back, in orange. Beth Macinko (CL), back-left with blue hat.
In crew leader Beth’s words to those on the crew this Sunday, she said:
“This year, 4 days of WTA work on Manastash Ridge completed the lower Westberg Trail reroute. You built 200ft of new tread and did the finish work on 600+ feet to open the reroute for use. This reroute will avoid the steep grade sections on the original trail that are causing erosion and vegetation loss. Your work makes the trail more sustainable to support generations of future use as well as the health of the ecosystem. As we saw, many people are already using and enjoying the trail you built.”
Thaddeus, youngest Green Hat, Saw & Throw – carving new trail
6/1-2/19 Photos WTA Manastash Ridge New Trail work
Monday, Jun 3
Last week’s blog wasn’t published until 1:09 a.m. this morning. WordPress issues with a link was the reason. Consequently, I slept in this morning, and have canceled all normal Monday activities to work on getting tasks completed that use my laptop. Its on/off switch is failing, so I have changed the settings this morning after pressing it 15 times to start, to have it never to sleep the screen or the system. That will buy me time to use it before I need to take it in for a diagnosis and arrange for purchasing a new Dell part for my computer, ordering, and installing it. I’m doing it locally with Computability LLC and saving the time and money to send it to Dell Support in Texas. I have spoken with Savannah there and I know the owner Matt. They can handle it, decide if my diagnosis is correct, and fix it. I will still have use of the computer until the part arrives.
I need to request my consultation report from Dr. Matsen be sent over to “Doc” Chelsea Newman; I thought it was requested at the time, but it was not in their records. I started that process, today, and still have no idea if it generated anything. I was never answered by email or phone and I left requests in both places.
Tuesday, Jun 4
We did various chores this morning, and after brunch, I left for a round-trip of a mile to my neighbor, Celia, who has cut my hair since 1988.
I stopped by the USPS for Forever postcards, and bought 10 at $.39 each. Everything has a story. Here’s the Azulillo flower story about a Forever stamp produced for 2017 postcard for the pretty blue Chilean crocus-type flower.
The stamp image is a Chilean blue crocus (Tacophilaea cyanocrocus) from pre-existing artwork by illustrator, Dugald Sterner (1936-2011). His penciled calligraphy under the flower indicates one of its common names – Azulillo loosely translated from Spanish means “little blue thing” – with its botanical name above. The letters on the card are nearly impossible to read, so John found information on the web.
The Chilean blue crocus is native to a small, mountainous area around Santiago, Chile. Though it has survived in cultivation as a landscape and greenhouse plant in the U.S. and other countries, it was believed to be extinct in the wild in its native Chile by overgrazing, habitat destruction, and an unsustainable export industry. However, a thriving wild population was discovered near Santiago in 2001.
Despite its name, the Chilean blue crocus is not related to true crocuses from the iris family. It is one of only two species in the genus Tecophilaea. A low-growing plant, its stalk reaches a height between 3-5” with linear leaves. There are a number of varieties of this species, including the flower featured in the stamp art, var. leichtlinii, with its cobalt blue flowers and white centers. The plant is hardy in U.S. zones 7 to 9.
Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamped card.
While on the subject of flowers, here is a tour of our Iris (we got from Celia).
These were all in bloom today, but other varieties (yellow and bronze) are yet to bloom in the same area. While we were looking at the nearby Iris, I walked over to our old 1977 Pace Arrow RV, where Czar demonstrated the exit procedure for the outside female cats winter bedroom.
First, these photos will show the entrance, with John for scale.
John and Czar with the entrance to 2 outside cats’ winter home with a light and beds – no heat.
Czar demos exit from winter bedroom for outside cats
I mentioned above the problem with the on-off switch on my laptop and about changing the setting. When I go to sleep, I lay it out, and turn the “light” intensity down to zero, but leave it running and plugged in. That way I do not have to use the switch, which I think is worn out and ready to fail. That’s my diagnosis that came from multiple times of the past few weeks, of having to press the button up to 15 times to turn it on. That was making me nervous.
Wednesday, Jun 5
I did go to the FISH Food Bank Lunch for music playing and got food today to accompany the salad I took.
I had called Brad & Burke to pay our AC bill, and now in today’s mail, I received a receipt for payment for the broken part and the upgrade to make our heat pump provide “cool” when needed and heat with compressors, rather than the resistant heaters. That set us back almost $800.
I believe I’m having an issue with the “injury” caused by wearing the ill-fitting boots for 2 hours last Saturday and compressing something in my feet (maybe tendons or muscles). I should have taken a picture of the impressions left on both feet when I removed the boots. At least I took my socks off and showed John, so someone else saw it and can verify this. Unfortunately, I am the one suffering.
Today, I could not wear any of my NORMAL shoes I wear, without severe pain. The tops of my feet (above my toes on the foot) are swollen. I have been taking my diuretic and my blood pressure (it’s fine). When I went to town, I wore different shoes, more like loafers without laces tied down or Velcro straps pulled across the top of my foot. That seemed to help, but still left a small “dent” impression on the very top of the foot from the shoe because of the swelling.
Thursday, Jun 6
I called to make an appointment this Monday with Dr. Cardon in Ellensburg for the foot swelling, but his schedule was filled until June 18th, so I made an appointment in Yakima at 10:15 a.m. I figure if it still is bad tomorrow, I will call in for my PCP’s advice. She is in Cle Elum on Fridays and I’m sure would fit me into her schedule.
Washed clothes, especially for John’s dusty trail work things and also a bunch of underwear for us both.
We are on for music at Rehab. We had 11 people show up and about as many in the audience. A good time was had by all. Cool today and very windy. I don’t mind that at all.
I made it by the P.O. to send a form in by certified mail.
I got home and tried on a few blouses Joanie gave me. Most were too large, and she is losing weight too, so they are too big for her. A few fit loosely, but had too low necklines, so I’m sharing them with another of our friends, Amy. A couple I’m passing along do fit but the low neckline in the front exposes my defibrillator scar and it is not a pretty picture. Looks like a big dent with a bump from the metal, the size of a pack of cigarettes, and casts a shadow. I don’t mind exposing the top of my open heart surgery scar, but the other turns me off. Amy wears lots of nice necklace jewelry, so the large open neckline will be perfect for her.
I received some photos today from Elise in New Jersey, and I am including my favorite, an amazing photo of Canada Geese swimming with their goslings. I have seen them in fields or on walkways in a park, while they were begging for food. The sunset over the lake is beautiful. 
Taken in Sussex County, NJ in Kittatinny Valley State Park
Friday, Jun 7
Just before 7am, John was off to Gold Creek Trail, just this side of Snoqualmie Pass. Except for the 4 days at Manastash, Gold Creek is the closest to home that is regularly visited by WTA volunteers.
I called Dee & Barb about the Emeriti meeting tentatively planned for next Wednesday. I think I will write another note mentioning at least 4 people have conflicts, and we are swamped too, so maybe we should wait until July 10. (Subsequently, we cancelled the meeting this coming week).
Swollen feet likely started from a pair of hiking boots
Here are photos of the culprits:
Today, I began pursuing the problem with my feet that began last Saturday night, the night before the Wenatchee Geology Field Trip with Nick Zentner. I decided there would be uneven ground and I needed to wear my hiking boots. I couldn’t find my old tried and true work boots I have worn in the past on all Nick’s field trips, so I resorted to another pair I found in the house (origin unknown).
I honestly don’t know where they came from. They are black and look like my work boots. I figured they had just been moved to the end of the hallway (but they had their shoestrings tied, and I never do that with boots, or pairs of shoes). The make is Harley Davidson. I truly have no idea how they got into our house. I did not buy them at a yard sale or at Big Five or any local store. And, they were not given to me on any of the Free Facebook sites. The size is larger than I would normally wear, Size 11, but they fit okay (so I thought when putting my feet in and lacing them up), but they pressured the back of my calf, and both feet on the top, particularly, and up the leg above my ankle.
I wore them around the house for two hours and decided I didn’t think I should wear them (they are also heavy), which I guess makes sense if you were riding them on a Harley Davidson and took a spill from a motorcycle into gravel or onto pavement. I switched to my old Brooks Addiction Walkers for the trip Sunday.
When I took the boots off, my feet, ankles, and up my leg ~5 inches was compressed and red looking. I called John over to look, so I had another person seeing what had happened. I SHOULD have taken a photo.
The next day (Sunday), I went on the trip, and clocked on my Fit Bit almost 2 miles, but it was done in my walkers. By Monday morning my feet were hurting, on top, and on my ankles around to the back of my sole. The top of my feet (each foot, above the toes) was swollen. I had continued taking my diuretic and I believed the swelling was unrelated to my heart issues and my blood pressure was normal. I skipped my Silver Sneakers class in order to stay home and rest and not walk much.
The next day (Tuesday), I put on my Velcro fastened shoes and wore them to town for stops I needed to make. I stopped by the AAC and told Roxanne (exercise physiology knowledgeable) and she thought (as I) that I might have caused something with the hiking boots). Wednesday, I could not stand the pain from the Velcro fastened shoes or the walkers (with lace up enclosure on top), and I had to wear more loafer-like shoes. That has continued, although I have tried the others on, and the pain is down now that the swelling is down.
I asked a nurse in our music group and she was concerned it was heart related. I never figured that (although I took my blood pressure as normal). I did figure it was related to wearing the boots Saturday night before leaving Sunday. I was some better by Thursday, but still wore the loafer type shoes and by then the swelling had mostly gone down. Friday, it was still somewhat sensitive, but I was able to put all my shoes on without much pain. I continued when out driving and walking to use the loafers. The first time I wore them on Wednesday, the swelling was still enough to show a mark from the top of the shoe across my foot. It didn’t hurt though. At home I always switched to bedroom shoes that do not have hard top support or I sit with only socks on and no shoes. I always sleep with my feet elevated. The top foot swelling was down completely the next day.
Meanwhile, yesterday I called and made an appointment with my foot doctor. I could not get in right away, (not until the 18th), so now next week, as it continues to heal, I will cancel the appointment. If it had not gotten better yesterday, I would have gone to my PCP today.
Meanwhile, I looked up different things on line, including typing in this question: What causes pain and swelling on the top of the foot.
Found this on line—must be what happened to me. “The shoe fits perfectly” with what I experienced.
What causes pain on the top of the foot?
Conditions caused by overuse include: Extensor tendonitis: This is caused by overuse or tight-fitting shoes. The tendons that run along the top of the foot and pull the foot upwards become inflamed and painful. … This condition causes pain in the top of the foot and outside the ankle.
That is an accurate description of what I suffered.
4:00 – 7:00 Lawyer Jeff Winters had a retirement party to provide an opportunity to meet his replacement, Attorney Ann Reidel-Thomas, and her assistant, Jennifer Stewart. We had a good conversation with all three. Jen works only on Mondays & Tuesdays. She lives in Zillah. We had a lot of common interests to share.
We both were happy to meet Ann. She will be great to work with on following up with the work we did previously with Jeff on our estate planning, to make it official. Jeff will be moving to Tampa, FL so I got his personal email address so I can introduce him to my cousin and her husband in Tampa.
Evening sunset was lovely pastels, but I didn’t get out quite soon enough; however, this will give you a clue through the trees. As I was taking it, I was enjoying the sound of the creek rushing in front of me (and on the other side of the hill beneath the ground you see at the center photo). Much rain in the hills has caused higher flows into the valley. Several of the trees pictured are across the stream, one of the many crossing, and forming, our Naneum Fan. Academics call them distributaries.
Alluvial Fan
Late sunset from our patio – getting too dark to see the sky well.
Saturday, Jun 8
John off to WTA and Gold Creek Trail, 6:55 a.m.
Today is CWU’s graduation and I’m no longer walking in my academic regalia, as I did for 20 years here. I also “hooded” graduate students in the Resource Management program. Now the new name for the program is Cultural & Environmental Resource Management, which more properly applies to the material covered in Natural and Cultural resource management, which we have been doing all along.
Late Friday night, I sent a request for personal email addresses to students at their cwu.edu addresses who won awards (scholarships & GIS Certificates) at the 5/21 end-of-year CWU ceremony and food fest provided by the Geography Department and the Cultural & Environmental Resource Management graduate program.
Five of the emails bounced. All but one were caused by spelling errors, but one is left unknown. I found him on Facebook and private messaged him with the problem and asking for the correct CWU account’s spelling of his first and last name and also for his personal email address. I heard from him and now know his first name. He goes by his middle name, so that was confusing my email creation from the list of recipients.
Sunday, June 9
John left by 6:50 a.m. to WTA work at Gold Creek again up the valley. This is to finish the trail tread fix-up. They will have a good bunch of before and after photos of all the work for 3 days this weekend, but we won’t be able to report them until next week’s blog. LeeAnne is the Blue Hat (with camera and candy) leader in this section of WA, and is now in her 5th year with WTA. She loves what she does with WTA, or she would move on, and up the pay scale.
Wow, this is a terrifying date in my past, 6-9-2009, when I was diagnosed with bacteria in my blood that would alter my life and almost take it. Before John went to bed last night, he showed me the way to a Wall Street Journal article he had read and wanted me to read. I put it on my computer, and finally made time to read it midday today.
It’s a powerful reminder of the advances of medical technology. Here’s a link to a story which is much worse than mine, but has similarities, mostly the support of a loving husband who acted as a translator to the medical staff after I emerged from an 8-day episode on life support after all my systems shut down, and was unable to communicate (be totally understood) with anyone but John.
The WSJ journal story follows from a woman in Denmark (it’s an inspirational read):
Rikke Schmidt Kjaergaard: Surviving a Coma
The WSJ is a fee site, so unless this is available elsewhere, you will only see the beginning. I have the text in a PDF I can send you if you wish, but you will have to request it.
My mom was in a coma in 1977 for a month after undergoing brain surgery to remove a subdural hematoma. The first words she spoke were to our liver Brittany who flew with me from Idaho to Atlanta. She came out of the comma in a nursing home in Marietta, GA. I took him into the home and they wheeled her into the visiting room. She saw him, smiled, and said, “Choc Baby.” He put his head in her lap to be petted.
John managed to get home at 4:40 p.m. I-90 gets overloaded on Sundays with folks headed back to the Puget Sound area. With him heading east, there are normal 70+ speeds. Westbound the traffic is slow and sometimes stops. Today, about 17 miles west of EBRG, there was an accident on the lanes going west. On his side, drivers slowed as they approached the scene, and both lanes slowed to “stop & go” for about 7 miles. This phenomenon is inexplicable to the average person, but multi-mile long backups created by the “lookie-loos” (technical term?) are common.
He was very tired, napped a little, fixed pizza for supper, and went to bed early.
This will be published Monday morning.
Hope your week was fine.
Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan