Keeping track

Sunday, Apr 23

For Apr 22 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.26. Events: 2 H, 1 PP, 21 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 38 min with (max = 9 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.5%. Pulse avg. 54.0, low 49.

We slept in an hour longer than usual!

Blog creation published just before 2:00 p.m. Won’t happen this week.

Ended up leaving for town in the truck to pick up broken concrete sidewalk pieces. They were heavy, but thankfully, John had the help of an 18 yr. old strong and agile young man, Trip (he’s John Landon III). They lifted a dozen large and many smaller pieces into the back of the truck, and then it started raining, so they both were soaked. I had on my rain jacket, but quit taking pictures.3 photos: Before in Ellensburg – after in our yard . . .
. . . showing where John unloaded them near the RR ties he plans to use with them to construct a loading dock. This is a project started several years ago when a bulldozer rearranged a bit of the field. Maybe it will get done this summer.

Another collage at the pickup site:John and Trip loading a chunk of sidewalk; middle John talking with Laura and an inside shot from the side canopy door of part of the load. I don’t have a photo of the complete load, until after it was emptied, but I watched a lot of hard work go into the loading. I’m grateful that Trip was there and willing to help John.
We left behind 4 pots of Hens and Chicks for them to plant and I will retrieve the pots when they get them planted. I also found out both the boys are musicians (Violin & Viola), so I will be sharing our KV F&F music with them.

We left and it started hailing on us, as we drove to Anne’s to water her plants and pick up her mail. On home and we had a late supper.

Finished Irish Lullaby that I received from Evie with corrections.

Monday, Apr 24

For Apr 23 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.72. Events: 2 CSR, 11 H, 1 PP, 24 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 23 min with (max = 13 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.1%. Pulse avg. 52.2, low 47.

John left for White Heron pruning at 7:40 and I sat resting for 1/2 hour. I’d already begun my day early with taking John’s BP. Finally, the new medication is working to lower it. This morning was the lowest I have ever seen for him: 118/70 with pulse 55 – more like my readings (except his pulse is always lower).

These daffodils cheered me and made washing dishes a happy occurrence when I could see these and look over them to watch birds feeding.Daffodils from our yard. John wants some of the pink ones.

John called to ask me to boil some eggs, as yesterday, for a salad: smoked turkey, cheese, Honeycrisp apple, egg, a little relish, with a small amount of mayonnaise.

I spent the day on chores at home. When John got home we ate, and then he went outside.

I’m still following Anne and Glenn Engels trip to Peru. Here’s today’s fix.Peruvian Dancers and Musicians at their evening dinner.

Tuesday, Apr 25

For Apr 24 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.52. Events: 1 CSR, 3 H, 20 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 49 min with (max = 13 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.1%. Pulse avg. 51.9, low 50.

I received a haircut today from Celia. I took a Nioxin Conditioner bottle to Celia for her to buy me a replacement on part 2 of the washings. I still have enough of the other parts. I came home and decided on the date of my next haircut. We put it on hers and my calendar. She’s done my hair since 1988, and now continues from her home, as she closed her business a decade ago. She’s only a little over a mile away.

I had my lunch as leftovers from salad yesterday and did dishes. I seldom complain of doing that chore, because John is so great about doing all the cooking, and he helps with the heavy pieces.
After getting home from my haircut, I went through more music preparation. Our exercise class was not held today because they are preparing for tonight’s shindig. It is the annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at the Armory when the paid staff of agencies of various sorts honor their community helpers. Our music group qualifies for recognition from several of the sponsors. John’s trail work does not earn him a spot but now he goes as a spouse.

We had a good time and fun with friends from our group at our table. We had Evie and Peter Schuetz, Gerald Gordon, Tim Henebry and Roberta Clark, John and me at the table, and next door were four of the folks from the AAC (the senior center). We had room at our table for one other, but she had knee pain and couldn’t join us.

This poster, below, presents the theme of the evening. Center pieces were glass jars with an inch of sand in the bottom, shells, and related decorations. It is shown in the left photo under the poster.The invitation.Center photo is my photo. Lise McGowan, Pacifica Senior Living, took the 2 on the left & right edges.
Left is our centerpiece, the meal with BBQ beef brisket sandwich with salad sides of carrot/raisin, Cole slaw, potato salad, and baked beans. This was preceded by a mixed salad. Lemonade, coffee, or water for beverage. On the right is a view of the incredible dessert table offerings. Nancy & John at the Volunteer Appreciation dinner, with the long wall decoration backdrop from the Ellensburg Adult Activity Center.

Another fix from Peru:Amazon Rainforest canopy, water lilies >3′ across, & wild banana.

You can be as smart as a 5th Grader: Giant Water Lilies
Use this [ large lily pads amazon-river thorns ] as an ‘Image’ search phrase. Lots of pictures are posted.

Wednesday, Apr 26

For Apr 25 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.40. Events: 1 CSR, 10 H, 21 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 8 min with (max = 15 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.5%. Pulse avg. 53.4, low 40.

This was the last day of pruning wine grapevines for John. Next week, when they round up enough people (5 needed), he will go back to help with bottling the Rose’.

I have to go for a blood draw tomorrow, for my standing order, and for 3 tests for my appointment next week with my cardiologist. I called Kim at the Lab to alert her that I would be coming so she could return my 3/4 size violin I loaned her daughter. The lab was busy and no one was answering the phone, so Leah at the front desk offered to personally deliver the message! It is not a far walk for her to do that, but it was very nice. Maybe I can carry some Daffodils to her. I did, on Friday.

Interesting break this morning when I went to the kitchen to fix my toast. I looked out the window and saw a lone Merriam turkey alternately flipping his tail feathers into a fan. I grabbed my camera and went to another window. After a couple of pictures, I realized I needed to video the activity. Here are the amusing results below. Video is rather short because I had to stop and run outside to shoo him away from the truck, although it wasn’t likely to be damaged.Merriam Turkey attacking himself in the shiny bumper of the F350

Tom sees Tom and fight ensues

Very windy day – up to 40mph gusts! Just when I was out gallivanting about town.

Today, was our little mascot Haley’s 4th birthday. I carried a stuffed Dalmatian puppy by for her and met both sets of grandparents. What a nice surprise! Check below for her thank you note.
Gloria and I were on our way home from singing and eating at the Food Bank Soup Kitchen (where a group of us play music for 1/2 hour), and then afterward, she and I go to SAIL exercise.

Thursday, Apr 27

For Apr 26 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.49. Events: 1 CSR, 10 H, 10 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 43 min with (max = 15 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.0%. Pulse avg. 53.0, low 49.

I went for my blood draw. Whoopee. INR=2.3, Potassium=4.7, and other tests: CMP 1.3 Creatine, Uric Acid 3.9, BNP, 2.66.
I do not have to go back for another month. NICE! The other tests were for my May 5 appointment with my Cardiologist.

We played music at Hearthstone to an appreciative audience. Met Tom there (guy we’ve known since his ex-wife took our Wine class years ago. Now he’s a resident there. I gave out the new song list to a couple of people and encouraged other capable of printing their own to do it to save on my ink and paper cost. I use our supplies to get the master arranged, ready for copying or sending, and then printing for all those without a printer. At least this time, I only have to add 3 songs to the audience copies and make a couple of sets to round out the number of the audience. Each year, five or more disappear – not returned by the audience, but what do they do with them? I gave a printed copy of the new song list for May & June to the two people there who do not have a computer as I had emailed the list to others.

I received a nice thank you note from Haley for her birthday present, the stuffed Dalmatian doggie. Right after she sang the words to Cockles & Mussels today, we all sang Happy Birthday to Haley! Everyone in the audience sang along as well! They love her at all the places we go.Received this today from Haley and mom, Amy. Haley’s drawings have been translated by Amy on the inside of card to the right.

Friday, Apr 28

For Apr 27 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.95. Events: 2 CSR, 13H, 17 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 41 min with (max = 16 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.4%. Pulse avg. 54.0, low 49.

I received a post from an Association of Pacific Coast Geographers (APCG) member that I thought I would share with our blog readers. John and I consider ourselves life-long geographers, but we still have to deal with new acquaintances asking place name questions. This excerpt below comes from Stephen Cuhna, Professor of Geography at Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA. I believe it is worth repeating here.
He says:

I faced this question every year during state and national geography bees. It was necessary to reassure parents that their kid’s love for geography would not sidetrack their inevitable march towards medical and law school.

The following passage, from in the NGS Geography Bee Study Guide for grades 4-8.

Knowing where places are located is an important first step to learning geography and enjoying the Bee. However, geography is much more than places on a map. Identifying Brazil, Zaire, Mt. Everest, Stockholm, and the Yangtze River are to geography what the alphabet is to reading. They open the gate for boundless and lifelong learning. Once you learn the places on a map, the real heart of geography is understanding why people settled there, who their neighbors are, how they make a living, why they dress and speak as they do, and what their kids do for fun. Developing this sense of place will raise a flat map to life.

Geographers investigate our global climate, landforms, economies, political systems, human culture, and migration. They are concerned not just where something is located, but why it is there, and how it relates to other things. A good geographer knows how to combine this information from many different sources, and to identify patterns that help us understand our complex world. Geography explains why your grandmother moved to Tucson (warm and dry climate), how oil from Kuwait reaches Italy (by way of the Suez Canal), where the tropical rainforest grows (near Equator), who faces towards Mecca as they pray (Moslems), and which continent is the most populated (Asia). In a nutshell, geography is the “Why of Where” science that blends and enriches history, literature, mathematics, and science.

John picked me Daffodils in two containers. I took them to four different places in town.

My first stop was the old Barge Hall (first building on the CWU campus) to a scholarship (fundraiser) luncheon on the 4th floor. I entered with a bouquet of daffodils and set them up in a glass on the table. We had an awesome “dinner” – for fewer people than the usual dozen, so there were leftovers the cook, Bobbie Broderius shared with some of us, as we were leaving. The main dish was a scrumptious lasagna. I brought home two large servings from which we will get 4 meals. We added frozen broccoli, on the side, and froze as two packages. With it today, we had two salads and warmed buttered, seasoned French bread. For dessert, chocolate and birthday cake ice cream with little crispy cookies.

I went by the hospital with daffodils for the front desk and for the lab, and picked up printed lab records. Got all my lab data since Jan 10 printed on 4 sheets (free). If it is more than 10 pages, one has to pay $10. The significance of Jan 10 is that is the last time I saw my main cardiologist, when he changed me to the new heart medication, Entresto, and I have to monitor my Potassium and my BP. I also have to have a Pro Time test monthly for my Coumadin, so I had my PCP add the potassium to the standing order for my INR. That simplifies things immensely.

From there I was off to SAIL exercise class with Erica leading. I presented a large can (fancy vase) of daffodils to Katrina, telling her John sent them, and told the AmeriCorps gals to take them home over the weekend to enjoy. At the end of class, I had to go to Super 1 pharmacy to pick up Amiodarone. From there on the trip home, I picked up Anne’s mail, delivered to her chair, a package I had been saving of her mail. While there, I checked on the plants that need watered every 4 days.

Ending the day with another photo collage from Peru:Peruvian Wildlife – Water lilies, Macaw, Parrot nibbling Glenn’s ear, Toucan, and Monkey.

Sat, April 29

For Apr 28 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.75. Events: 5 H, 17 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 42 min with (max = 9 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 2 events <88% with overall avg., 92.0%. Pulse avg. 54.0, low 50.

It was chilly last night, and some of the water out front froze on the top. John put young plants inside the pickup canopy with 15 gallons of rain water (as a heat source) and brought in the plum tree cuttings into the house.

Sunny, not windy. John used the time to spray nasty chemicals on nasty weeds, take Annie the Brittany for walks, feed horses, and other do other chores.
I worked on music and dishes and a little on other paperwork all day.

John picked asparagus to go with the BBQ beef ribs he slowly baked most of the day. Asparagus is somewhat high in Vitamin K, to conflict with my Coumadin (lowers it), so I requested some wine with dinner (raises it). It was right on 2.3 on Thursday. I cleaned the dust off two wine glasses and measured what 4 ounces was and poured that for me of Syrah, from White Heron, where John has been pruning. Oh, so tasty. Fruity and very nice. I enjoy the whole dinner. I think we need to do this more often. [Syrah is a dark-skinned grape variety grown throughout the world, sometimes called Shiraz. This link gives an interesting report.]

This photo is combined with Saturday’s dinner and Sunday’s lunch.Left, Saturday night’s with Syrah – right, Sunday’s lunch for me – grilled chicken-egg salad, with apples and cheese, blueberry yogurt & Cheez-its.

Sunday, April 30

For Apr 29 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.62. Events: 4 H, 19 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 25 min with (max = 11 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.2%. Pulse avg. 52.6, low 49.

I just finished John’s haircut, the temperature is 52, and very windy just had 36 mph gusts the past two hours, on their way to 49 mph, until 7:00 tonight. Highest we saw this afternoon was 46 mph, measured at the airport 5 miles south of us.

I came back to work on the blog, and received a notification that the professional videotaping of the Songs of the Sixties program I mentioned in the blog last week (on April 21) had been posted by the local Educational TV station. Here is the link to over an hour of great music.Songs program

John decided to take time to download the Creators Update version of Windows 10. It was supposed to take 90 minutes to update but did so in about 65, and that was after a 2 hour download – allowed continued use while that happened. I was checking it throughout the hair cutting every 5 minutes to keep his computer from sleeping).

Wind gusts made it to 46 mph at 3:53 today.
As the sun goes behind the Cascades, the wind is dropping with it. Now at sustained 15.

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Sunday, April 16

After the blog was out, I sent an Easter card to several people, and was on Facebook checking birthdays, when an “ad” came across on The Free Box site for a giveaway of a 6′ 28″ bookcase. I was notified something had just been offered 35 minutes ago. We drove an F-350 to carry a 35 pound object because it was 6 inches to long to fit in the Forester. Round trip distance was about 20 miles. John says the bookcase is the most expensive free thing we’ve gotten. Nancy says, “Probably not.”

I worked on birthday & anniversary cards through Jacquie Lawson’s unique UK site and sent out an Easter card.

Monday, Apr 17

For Apr 16 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.22. Events: 1 CSR, 8 H, 16 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 32 min with (max = 16 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.5%. Pulse avg. 52.6, low 48.

John went to White Heron. It’s only 3 pruners this week, and just John & Cameron this coming Friday.

I managed to cancel the Haband VIP service after taking advantage of all the discounts. I had to get out or pay $15 / mo for something for which we have no use. They try hard to keep selling things after the initial contact.

INTERNET red light stopped progress, and I had to restart the router/modem.
I worked on the Jobs list ‘sends’ and music for the Food Bank, finishing Alexander’s Ragtime Band, Amazing Grace in C, and finally sent 6 pdfs off to Evelyn at 12:43. We are changing the keys to C or G for songs we previously did in D because our harmonica players only have C & G instruments.

I boiled eggs and made chicken salad for the next 3 days. It was a special mix, with added Honeycrisp apple that John brought home and grated cheddar cheese. Great lunch. He brought home two $10 boxes of 12 each of the Honeycrisp from Double Diamond in Quincy (been in ‘controlled atmosphere’ {CA} storage since fall). The image above is of the cars parked in front of Double Diamond (left) and Starr (right) – almost all these are for folks sorting and boxing apples, most into boxes of 40 pounds. Bigger packers are located in Wenatchee and the Yakima area.
This is nearing the end of the big Honeycrisp. Later they will have Apricots, boxed and sold fresh, because they do not keep in CA, as do apples. We don’t know the price yet.

My friend, Glenn Engels & his mom Anne, from Ellensburg has been sending pictures to his Facebook site all week. They are in Peru. Throughout the week, I will share his photos, as collages of my favorite shots of all the ones he is posting.These were in Cuzco. Anne with an Alpaca, Glenn with some local kids, and a wall hanging he purchased.Some more Peruvian images: a musician, guinea pigs on the dirt floor of a home, and garbage-eating receptacles.

Tuesday, Apr 18

For Apr 17 CPAP. I cannot report CPAP figures, today, because I did not replace the SD card in the machine last night. (I have to take it out in the morning and put in my computer to run my software analysis packages for each collection device.) Time was about 7.5 hrs. Oximetry was quite good: SpO2 low 91, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 94.5%. Pulse avg. 54.4, low 50.

I bid John farewell for his trip to White Heron today, went back to bed, and slept another hour. Spent the rest of the morning working mostly on music, but some on other needs in the house. The weather was crazy. Sunny, rainy, and even hailed at a friend’s a few miles to the SW.

I stopped by the bread room on my way to the AAC and found two packages of cupcakes to take to the senior center for the folks who come for coffee and visiting, or there were enough they can use them for noon lunches for a few folks. I took 2 dozen. I carried two gluten free pizza dough packages by a friend’s, and dropped off two loaves of white bread to another person (both on my way to the senior center).

This was our last day of Jazzercise and 4 of us were able to be there to thank Katrina for 2 years of offering us low-aerobic Jazzercise at the AAC. We had a nice card and gift certificate to her favorite morning place for lattes on her way to work. Connie, Nancy, Katrina, Evelyn, Nan (missing Anne, in Peru)

I will add the colors of the day, from Peru, from her son, Glenn.Peruvians are bright color people

I dropped by Bi-Mart to check my numbers, and found two containers of Easter chocolate candies marked 50% off. Luckily, my ending number of my membership is a “1” – the chosen number to receive a free package of Aplets and Cotlets “fruitlet” candies (Apple, Pear, Cherry) from Liberty Orchards in Cashmere, WA. I wonder how many gifts they give away on Tuesdays?

After picking up mail for Anne at Rosewood, I came home and continued working on the music I need to print for tomorrow that Evelyn didn’t get done before she ran low on paper.

Wednesday, Apr 19

For Apr 18 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.47. Events: 2 H, 1 OA, 2 PP, 19 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 27 min with (max = 12 L/min). Slept in after. Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 91.6%. Pulse avg. 55.6, low 50.

I awoke abruptly from interrupted sleep with nightmares about cleaning up this house. John left at 7:40 a.m.

This morning I continued searching for a cleaning person (for folks that moved here, not knowing it gets cold in winter; they are selling and moving to someplace warmer). I did not get my own dishes done.

Filling the “pill organizer” once a week is a tedious job and thankless task, but I accomplished it. I must check on the price of Amiodarone before I order a 90-day refill.
Need to finish getting the music ready for the food bank today, and load up ‘hens & chicks’ (plants) and clothes and get out of here to pick up Gloria.

I picked her up and we went to the Food Bank for music and food after, thanking us. We had a bunch of fans at the front table. From there we ran an errand to the bank, and went on to SAIL exercise class at the senior center. After that, we both needed some grocery shopping done. On my way home to let her off, I stopped by and delivered some hens & chicks (succulents) to a friend (story below on Friday).

One of our new songs next month has been presented and put into SongWriter 2012 software by Evie Schuetz. I found this rendition on line that is worth watching. I know you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Bonaparte’s Retreat, 1981, Barbara Mandrell & Glen Campbell (with him on Guitar & Bagpipe) Link

Today’s entry from high up in the Andes (from Glenn):Chicón Mt., 18,143 feet and examples of terracing

Thursday, Apr 20

For Apr 19 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.44. Events: 1 CSR, 2 H, 1 OA, 1 PP, 10 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 49 min with (max = 7 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.1%. Pulse avg. 53.9, low 50.

We entertained today at Pacifica and had an appreciative audience with a bunch of us performing. Our newest fiddler, Laina Brown, treated us at the end with a classical solo piece. She is so good and gracious to share her talents. Everyone in the audience loved her presentation, and all of us players as well.

After music, I picked up potting containers of all sizes from Sharla Layman’s husband’s workplace on Elmview, south of the airport. We’ve been starting new plants and giving them away, so the containers are much appreciated. Sharla is also a MOPS mom and participated in offering succulents (along with Amy), to the project described below on Friday.

I called EBRG stores about Sunflower seeds, looking for the best price. John went by & bought two bags. Best price on gasoline today was $2.73/gal and then we get a 4% return (~11¢) from the credit card agency. Life is way too complicated.

Our friend who gave us sweatpants, found a deserving person for us to give our Gazelle exercise machine, pictured in a previous week’s blog. At this rate of disposal, if we live to be 100, we will be rid of all this stuff.

Friday, Apr 21

For Apr 20 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.81. Events: 11 H, 19 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 5 min with (max = 10 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 90, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 94.8%. Pulse avg. 52.7, low 47.

Up at 5:40 a.m. and back to bed for almost an hour.

John left at 7:30 a.m. for White Heron.

I decided to go to the program, “Sixties’ Songs of Peace and Protest,” held at Hal Holmes center in Ellensburg tonight. I found my Peace Symbol necklace to wear, which had been gifted to me over a year ago. It had belonged to a young girl’s mom, and she had no use for it. This evening was an excellent performance, and I’m glad I went.

I made a few short videos of my favorites, but the whole program eventually will be broadcast on the Ellensburg Educational Station. I’ll try to get that link to share.

My evening’s favorite was The Same River, by Juni Fisher / arr. Judy Coder (who is on the guitar below). I love their harmony.

favorite Link

Here’s a funny one

Feel Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag, written by Country Joe McDonald – had the audience singing along on the chorus. This is full of GI humor .. chorus:

And it’s one, two, three,
What are we fighting for?
Don’t ask me, I don’t give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it’s five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain’t no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we’re all gonna die.

These two gals (Jennifer Epps and Judy Coder) are members of a (normally western music) group from Ellensburg, called Notable Exceptions. You can find them on the web.

Here was an earlier song in the program, performed by the Ellensburg’s Women’s Chorus. I know 3 people who sing in the group. One of them (Minerva) is also in our Fiddlers & Friends group.

Where Have all the Flowers Gone?

I was particularly interested in recording this song because I have been working on getting the music score into SongWriter to share with our group to include in our May/June playlist.
I have been working on our music with Evie’s great help, for the Fiddlers & Friends. It’s quite the project.

This was the day that Glenn and his mom visited Machu Picchu.Machu Picchu and Inca ruins

Just looking at these make me dizzy.

Sat, April 22

For Apr 21 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.62. Events: 3 CSR, 4 H, 24 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 25 min with (max = 17 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 90H, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.5%. Pulse avg. 52.5, low 47.

Find time to cut John’s hair this weekend. Missed it today. I kept thinking it would rain and he would come in, in the daylight.

I am still working on finishing the new entries and making pdfs. I’m working between two computers. Some of the stuff from Evie is in a different version of SongWriter that only can be utilized on my new Dell laptop. All my other stuff is on the Toshiba. I’m slowly migrating to the new one.

Bob Hall’s “Bottle Stopper” gift.

A friend from Oregon mailed a package:John created this collage. A comment on the wine bottle that we actually bought at the old train station in Ellensburg. It is vintage 1988, the year I started my full-time teaching job at CWU.

Bob was a student at the Univ. of Iowa (UI) with John, in the same starting class of ’67. We are trying to figure all the people we knew from that year. Bob made stoppers for a few who started there 50 years ago. It has the UI’s mascot (a Hawkeye) on the top of the turned wooden top adhered to a food-okayed bottom.

John carried the stopper over and showed it to Cameron yesterday. I figure the bottling crew can test it next week when they bottle the Rose’ and have a bottle after the work is done, with some good food.  John plans to take smoked turkey. He thought it would happen this week, but it didn’t. He had bought the turkey, but we were afraid it wouldn’t last, even though smoked, so we have been eating it and he will get more, next week.

We made a great egg salad lunch with cut-up smoked turkey, Havarti cheese, Honeycrisp apple pieces, and relish.

Speaking of crafty things, Here are the results of the MOPS craft project to make chicks (of hen and chicks succulents) for all 50 Moms of Pre-School children (MOPS). Two others besides us, both MOPS members, Amy & Sharla (mentioned above), donated the chicks. Left – Before donation from John (via Nancy), of Hen and chicks to Amy, and on the right, one of the resulting planted chick containers. Scale is difficult to visualize, but the glass containers received were smaller than expected so they needed the tiny “chicks.”Besides being a musician (our flute, penny whistle, and washboard player), with her wonderful 4 yr old, Haley, our group’s mascot, she is an artist and a baker. She created this hand-formed succulent cake. You have seen her flower-decorated cupcakes in earlier blogs. What a talented young woman.

Sunday, April 23

For Apr 22 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.26. Events: 2 H, 1 PP, 21 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 38 min with (max = 9 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.5%. Pulse avg. 54.0, low 49.

Today, and the entire coming week, has clouds, chance of showers and a temperature range between 35 and 55°F. Over near White Heron, Apricots are blooming (pink) and vines are just starting pushing out leaves. South of Yakima (~75 miles) there is a claim that apple trees are flowering. An old residential section of Yakima on a hill west of town (early well-to-do folks) is filled with flowering plants. We’ll be down that way on May 5th, so hope flowering does not progress too rapidly.

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Sunday, April 9

For Apr 8 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.01. Events: 1 CSR, 7 H, 10 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 56 min with (max = 17 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 94.4%. Pulse avg. 53.5, low 50.

The AAG (Association of American Geographers) finished today, and my friend Joseph Kerski, Geographer at ESRI, sent me some photos of his time there. I did not miss many conferences and giving a paper during my sojourn in WA and ID over 37 years. After retirement in 2010, I have only attended one AAG meeting (at my cost), when it was held in Seattle a few years ago. Previously, the university covered most of the costs. John and I even went to an AAG conference in Toronto, Canada in 1966, as students, before we were married. I drove my old ’35 Ford from Cincinnati and took Nancy “J”, my friend since 6th grade, with us. We had a blast. I am a lifetime member (awarded after 50 years of membership). I began while in Cincinnati, in 1965. Top left is a photo of the ESRI exhibitor’s booth, top right, Joseph in front of a huge globe that belongs to a Geography Department at Bridgewater State University in Connecticut, and bottom is the Boston skyline. The clouds above and under those conference photos are beautiful, but I could not fit them all on my screen to snag into the image.

John sent me an Excel file with a month’s recording of his blood pressure and pulse readings. Not only did he list the figures, but also he constructed a graphic time comparison. I sent this on through the medical portal for Dr. Paul Schmitt. The Lisinopril (to lower BP) seemed to have stalled out and Paul had said he would add another med if that happened. So, he prescribed 12.5 mg of Hydrochlorothiazide. This is the starting dose (and 3 days later there seems to be no effect: next?).

I transferred all my BP information from my monitor’s memory, to my book, and now I have to keep it up daily because the memory only stores 60 readings and then overwrites it, so I lost ~3 weeks of data by being busy and lazy. I do not have an appointment until May 5, with Dr. Kim, so I will have a lot of information to share, even with missing stuff for 18 days of March. I don’t think I will go to the effort John did, however. At the moment I am fine, and only have to check my BP to be sure the systolic measurement does not go over 140 or below 100. It has been fine since starting on the new heart medication, Entresto, back in January.

I registered for the $5,000 garden makeover (actually $250 worth of stuff), being given in June 2017. See NWF.org/Subaru to register (free). John found the information when we were at the Subaru dealer last week for maintenance on my Forester, and picked up a plantable seed packet that I gave to Amy for her to plant with Haley in their flower garden.

I mentioned to our neighbor, Louaine, that John planted the seeds from a pretty flowering Almond Tree she has (and gave us seeds from over a year ago). This was her response, when I told her he managed to cultivate 3 trees and planted them with a covering protective guard fence, near the end of our driveway. She said, “That’s interesting about the Hall’s Hardy almond babies.” Here is a collage of two of the three trees. Left is the largest tree, and right is the middle-sized one, which is planted on the opposite side of the driveway’s entrance from Naneum Road, seen traveling west – east in the left photo. Sand gives the light-gray color on the surface.

Monday, Apr 10

For Apr 9 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.66. Events: 1 CSR, 11 H, 2 PP, 1 OA, 21 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 14 min with (max = 16 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 1 event <88% with overall avg., 93.0%. Pulse avg. 53.3, low 50.

A pruning day for John who left at 7:40 a.m. for White Heron. Temperature, 39°; snow on hill (pictured above, without snow).

I wrote a note about John’s blood pressure to our doctor, to let him know about the paperwork we sent in the postal mail on Saturday (supposedly picked up at our rural mailbox), with details about his continued high BP. He called us a couple days later because the mail never arrived. We sent him graphs on another email account because the patient portal (NEXTMD) would not take images.

I called my PCP nurse to ask about my blood vial (it was lost by the lab last Friday; never recovered), and I requested my Coumadin and Allopurinol prescriptions be sent to the SAFEWAY pharmacy, because of a better price by over 1/2, by using a coupon from GoodRX. I mentioned in the blog previously about the Coumadin cost for 2.5 mg, 90 tablets, going down from $34.22 to $15.58 (less by $18.64), and today, John brought my Allopurinol (180 tablets), that cost us $60.00. The cost at Safeway for that will be $32.59 (less by $27.41). Both of those were using my insurance co-pay. At Safeway, I pay cash, and can use my Amazon.com card and get 2% off my pharmacy cost. Therefore, it’s a win-win situation that saves me $46.05 + 92¢ rebate, for two 90-day prescriptions.

Some yellow apples are starting to get too soft for us, so John saw the 3 deer (not looking for handouts much now). He tossed a few apples in their direction and they did not refuse them.

I did some housework: dishes and two loads of clothes. On the clothes, I used both zipped nylon bags given to me, to keep underwear separated. Very handy.

I changed the key on Home on the Range from D to C so our harmonica player could join us playing. He only has a C and a G type harmonica (obtained by turning it over and blowing into the opposite side).

John called me from a traffic jam stop for road construction, about 12:30. He just dialed my number (on his phone) and it came up automatically on the Bluetooth through the dashboard car speakers, so we continued talking through the traffic diversion. Tomorrow he goes back for pruning again, but Wednesday it is supposed to rain, so he will help bottle Rose’ instead.

Tuesday, Apr 11

For Apr 10 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=2.51. Events: 1 CSR, 16 H, 1 PP, 17 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 23 min with (max = 19 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 1 event <88% with overall avg., 93.3%. Pulse avg. 54.5, low 50.

John went pruning at White Heron.

I went to Jazzercise, by way of the Food Bank bread room, picking up some cupcakes for the AAC to go with coffee for the day, stopped by the Post Office to send a certified mail letter, and went to Safeway to deliver my prescription savings coupons to the pharmacy. On the way down the aisle, I noticed the Quick Response Code [ QR code ] price of a dozen eggs was $ .78, so I requested the price because I do not own a Smart phone. They gave it to me. A Japanese auto-parts supply giant, invented QR codes in 1994. We’ve been going downhill ever since. I went by Bi-Mart to check our number and after Jazzercise to Super 1 to pick up Lemon Pies, the last day for my rain check.

I fixed more music for the food bank tomorrow.

Wednesday, Apr 12

For Apr 11 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.25. Events: 2 CSR, 9H, 18 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 10 min with (max = 14 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 86, 2 events <88% with overall avg., 92.5%. Pulse avg. 53.9, low 49.

John stayed home because of rain and while he thought he would go to help bottle Rose’, he won’t, because they need more people than are available (some are unreturned snow-birds) to make the process work properly (5). He built another bird feeder – the new one is on the base of a Tamarack tree he cut off (leaning and too close to the house), cut about 7 feet up. The squirrel and the obnoxious Collared Doves were the first to find it, and the finches will not eat with the squirrel there. John left the platform in the Mountain Ash tree for when the squirrel takes over the other. We wonder what he’s doing with all the seeds.This photo shows both feeders, left is in the Mountain Ash tree in our front yard, and the right is atop a sawed off Tamarack (Larch) tree.New Larch feeder with birds – right with Douglas Tree squirrel

I decided to order with my discount from Haband something for us at a significant discount and free shipping, before I cancel my Haband VIP trial. I have heard awesome comments from two of our guitarists (Gerald and Maury) about their use of a Red Copper Ceramic no-stick pan, with NO oil required, and the ability to cook eggs in the same pan as other things. Gerald’s came from Fred Meyer (a Kroger Co.) here in town, where one can get a skillet for $19.95 for a 10 inch and $29.95 for a 12″, but, if bought in WA, we would have to add 8.2% sales tax to the total price.

I can get two 9-1/2″ ones at Haband for $29.98 total. That’s paying $19.95 for the first and the second for $9.99, with free shipping and a discount 10% (Haband VIP discount), plus another discount of 15% off a >$40 order, using my Haband credit card. So, $26.98 + $49.99 for a 9-1/2″ square deep dish one with 5 parts (acts as a baking dish, deep fryer, steamer, etc.). Total $79.97 minus both percents off = $59.97, so I ordered them. I don’t cook much, so I hope John likes them. He OK’d my purchase before I made it.

I printed some music copies for today where the key had been changed so the two harmonica players could play with us at the food bank. We played with a bunch of people, and to an appreciative and involved audience. The front table was filled with our fan club, all singing along, sharing books of lyrics.

Picked up John’s new med for blood pressure, and they also had my Entresto ready. I was surprised I didn’t have to wait a week for them to order it. I guess they must figure I’m good for it, and ordered an extra container last month. Supposedly, I am their only client using the medication. It is normally too expensive to have extras sitting around.

Crap – all my dental insurance allowance ($1,750) is spent up for the year, after having the two implants seated, for which just this year I had to pay $1,680 (more occurred from our out-of-pocket last year). I am afraid my monthly bill for dental insurance exceeds the amount of reimbursement. From now on, everything will be out of pocket – 4 cleanings, a build up, and hopefully nothing else. John’s is on a different tab, so his cleanings will be free and any work will probably be covered at 80%. Now we have to schedule eye exams and John is due for new glasses. Some of the expense will be covered.

John made a pork roast for supper and we had it with a baked potato and Yellow Delicious apples.

Thursday, Apr 13 Happy Birthday, Daisy Tre’

For Apr 12 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.73. Events: 6 H, 1 PP, 10 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 58 min with (max = 10 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.1%. Pulse avg. 53.5, low 49.

Unexpected trip to White Heron to prune. We thought it would rain, so John slept in, but Cameron called at 7:15 a.m. to say it was all right with no rain, and John left to prune; only 3 pruners worked today.

Today was my Brittany in California’s 4th birthday, and we received a photo from her trainer’s wife, Deanna, of Daisy on a “honor” of another dog’s point.On the right “honoring” the find of the Brittany on the left. Our dog’s call name is Daisy – and her official AKC name is Cedaridge Kip’s Camelot Shay Tre’ JH – – The JH title at the end is for Junior Hunter. She is with her trainer, Scott Azevedo, still competing in AKC Field Trials and also will start on her MH (Master Hunter) title in AKC Hunt Tests. Photo by Deanna Beals-Azevedo.

I called Haband with the order for the red copper pans.
I also called Meadows Place (assisted living home) with a 10-count for chairs. We had 13 people participating, counting Haley (see her photo below).

I got my tripod hooked to my camera to take tonight to videotape the lecture. I packaged some other stuff to meet someone there to drop off, and met someone else to pick up another item.

Left today at 1:00 to go to the Meadows Place; before John arrived home. We had a large turnout and a good audience. This photo was taken by Joanne Moore, who was there from Roslyn with her husband, Lloyd. They are friends of our guitar & Dobro player, Maury Martin. Joanne took this photo on her phone, during the presentation of Cockles and Mussels, sung by Haley Davison (almost 4 yrs old the end of this month), and backed by us. She is holding sticks that she used on other songs to keep the beat of the song. What a cutie. She is our group’s mascot.

We are called the Kittitas Valley Fiddlers and Friends. The group began in the 1950s. Two members of the original group still play with us. Another, the accordionist from the 50s is a patient in one of the nursing homes where we play, and she joins us in the semicircle when we are there. She is only able now to keep time to the music, but her timing is still right on and her smile never ends. She gets much happiness from watching Haley dancing. Her dad started the group. He was a blind fiddler. Her husband is one of our guitarists. Haley was standing in the sun in front of the group; her mom, Amy, is to the right of the picture, and she is our flute player, who also plays the washboard and penny whistle. Top left is our fiddler Evie’s arms, and I’m sitting on a piano bench, beside one of our mandolin players, Joanie. Behind her was our bass guitarist, Sharon. All the guys on guitars (Maury, Gerald, Charlie) were to the left, along with Tim on bass mandolin, Kevin on banjo, and Dean on harmonica. Our tambourine player, Anne, was to the far right. Photo by Joanne Moore.

We went to a talk tonight at the Historical Museum by Kelsey Doncaster, formerly my student in the REM graduate program.
Kelsey Doncaster 4-13-17 Lecture Kittitas County Historical Museum

Kelsey Doncaster presented an excellent discussion, “Managing Water in the West – Dynamite, Draglines, and the Unexplained Cracking of a Pressure Tunnel: Building the Kittitas Division of the Yakima Project.” Kelsey has worked as an historian for the Bureau of Reclamation since 2008. He was my student at CWU in my graduate class (REM 515: GIS in Cultural & Natural Resource Mgt,) in the Cultural and Environmental Resource Management Program.
Description on YouTube video: His presentation goes for just over 45 minutes and is followed by a little over 20 minutes of questions & answers. Video by Nancy B. Hultquist (Emerita Prof, Geography), with permission to tape by Kelsey Doncaster. Introduction was by Sadie Thayer, Museum Director.

We came home for a late dinner.
I uploaded the videotape to You Tube that I took tonight, and it worked overnight for over 2 hours on the upload. I’m happy our DSL worked through the night.

Friday, Apr 14

For Apr 13 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.17. Events: 7 H, 9 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 58 min with (max = 10 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 85, 1 events <88% with overall avg., 93.3 %. Pulse avg. 54.1, low 50.

This was non-pruning day so John worked in the yard here. Lots to do in the garden and other things. He wants to spray weeds with Glyphosate (RoundUp®), but the temperature is supposed to be over 60°F. No such luck. He did use an old T-shirt and filtered rainwater (25 gallons) so that when he can spray he won’t have to use house water. Ditch water has too much junk in it and clogs the nozzle, and we think that water was the source of the Giardia infection he had, so not wise to be spraying that on a lot of things.

I need a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT). I made it to the hospital for checking into the Cardio Pulmonary Lab a little before 10:45. I met Anne Engels there in the hospital lobby for some paperwork and wished her well on her upcoming 3-week trip to Peru with son, Glenn. I’m taking care of her mail and plants while she’s away, and her neighbor will look after the inside cat.

The PFT took longer than usual. WE did have to visit. Then equipment malfunctions and experienced staff consultations. I got a comparison of the past 3 test results (today included) for a trend analysis report. Also sent them to my cardiologist (for my May 5 appointment).

I was starving when the test was over, so I went by the Food Bank to see friends (from our horse riding days) who are the volunteer cooks on Friday. The menu today was a make what you want on it, Taco Salad. Very good, with a peach/plum cobbler (warm) for dessert. I sat with people I know from playing music there, and we had a nice visit, plus I met some new folks.

From there, I was off to Pet$ense for my order I made this morning for 3 cases of cat food, to buy with my $5.00 off a $35 purchase. It was already packaged at the front desk and one of the cashiers was kind enough to carry the load to my car. The price was about 46¢/can, less than any other place around, including Costco, and it only carries the Pâté .

I came home to finish getting the videotaping of last night’s talk to get off to the presenter and the director of the Kittitas County Historical Museum. This mentioned above in yesterday’s blog entry.

Then I worked on more paperwork, and some music for the Food Bank presentations, thrown together with the KV Fiddlers & Friends prep for the next two months, May/June. I’m using the same playlist as last year, but a few things have been changed on some of the songs, so I have to make a new master to send to the players (those who can print their own). By using the old list, I save time and printing costs by being able to use the same copies of lyrics for the audiences at 5 different places.

I came home to the sad news of the loss of Gil Kiesecker, a fiddler who passed across the rainbow bridge this afternoon at the age of 101. I heard him play in Kittitas at the WOTFA summer workshop in 2000. For 21 years, I was in a class there with his daughter, Jean K. Levold, but I never realized he was her father.

Below are some memories. The photos Jean sent to Roy & Shirley Calvert, asking them to pass the news to the rest of us in the WOTFA (WA Old Time Fiddlers Association). I have shared with a few who knew him and no longer are members. . . . . Dance fiddler from the Blue Mountains
Gil Kiesecker

Above is just an introduction to his life.

Here is a video of his fiddle playing.

Show Me the Way to Go Home

Gil was born in Anatone in southeastern Washington State in 1916 and was playing dances in that region when he was in grade school. Here he plays and sings the traditional closer for old-time dances in the Pacific Northwest. This closed the District 6, Washington Old Time Fiddlers show in Des Moines, WA, May, 2007. He has two CDs on Voyager, CD356, “Dance Fiddler from the Blue Mountain,” and CD360, “Blue Mountain Memories,” www.voyagerrecords.com. Video by Shirley Calvert.

Clearwater Stomp

Gil is backed up by Stuart Williams, guitar, on a tune he learned from a musician in Lewiston, Idaho, where the Clearwater River joins the Snake River near the Southeast corner of Washington State. This video was made at a workshop at the 2006 Northwest Folklife Festival, Seattle, by Lew Holt.

Then, with an introduction to Gil Kiesecker is the following:
Clearwater Stomp by Vivian Williams (fiddle) and husband Phil Williams (guitar) -2011

Link

Another musician near and dear to our hearts passed over the rainbow bridge, last month, Feb 16 at 80 – Phil Williams. He and his wife Vivian were excellent players and music historians. John and I attended some of their presentations in Ellensburg. Here is a link to a message about his death and the plans for a celebration of life this spring.

If you follow the Gil Kiesecker video on Clearwater Stomp, it is followed on You Tube by Phil Williams introducing Gil’s love and playing of the song, and a little bit of his history. Vivian plays the Clearwater Stomp backed by Phil. Link above.

Meanwhile, check this out regarding Phil Williams.
Link Re: Phil

Saturday, April 15

For Apr 14 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.88. Events: 1 CSR, 8 H, 1 PP, 1 OA, 11 RERA. Time on 4 hrs 48 min with (max = 11 L/min). Slept 4-1/2 more hrs off CPAP but on oximeter, AHI was 1.04 overnight. Oximetry: SpO2 low 85, 12 events <88% with overall avg., 92.0 %. Pulse avg. 53.2, low 49.

Morning sunshine!
John carried Sunflower seeds to the bird feeders and then worked in the garden, including doing 2 gallons of spraying there and elsewhere. He put cans over the Asparagus tips to protect them.

We took a walk around the yard today to see trees, flowers, and other things.

Little yellow bells are popping up in among some wild Cherry bushed (trees).Yellow bells – yellow aging to orange but can have faint brown markings inside, often turning deep red when withered.
Link to Fritillaria pudica

Yellow is the color for the day. Next is a collage taken from the end of our driveway, across our neighbors’ Swedbergs’ barn to Bregg Hill, a basalt outcropping, and the yellow wildflowers or weeds (we don’t have the energy to walk over and up to find out what they are). Top photo is just the top of the hill showing over their barns; the bottom shows the yellow blooms continuing to the north, down the hill, with 4 deer in the foreground.

We continued our tour, ending in the garden, and leaving out the onion shoot planting. Not much to see there, and the result of the late planting will not be known for 2 weeks or so. Although spring is sprung, Sunday morning temperature dipped below freezing.Replanting of strawberries: Before and after with walkway added, made from chipped trees left by last year’s FIREWISE activity.Two of the larger pots of Hens & Chicks needing re-potting. Need to give away some and break apart and replant. We do have some singles and smaller multiples.

Sunday, April 16 Happy Easter !

For Apr 15 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.63. Events: 5 H, 25 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 59 min with (max = 13 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 1 event <88% with overall avg., 93.1%. Pulse avg. 52.5, low 49.

Cold…between 4 am and 6 am the airport readings were down to 30°. When I got up our porch was at 34°, but nothing looks damaged outside.

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Monday, Apr 3

For Apr 2 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.57. Events: 1 CSR, 10 H, 22 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 21 min with (max = 16 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 1 events <88% with overall avg., 92.5%. Pulse avg. 54.9, low 51.

A pruning day for John who left at 7:30 a.m. for White Heron.

John called at noon to say he’d be late arriving. The road from George to Quincy has the DOT doing something with long delays. He is following a different route home, which he will have to use for the rest of the week.

I finished cropping the photos for AAC for the Louisiana Bayou and sent 99 Mb of stuff through the wetransfer.com site (free for downloads for 7 days). The photos I am taking for the senior center needed to be created at a higher resolution so the publisher can use some in the program of activities for the City of Ellensburg agencies that comes out quarterly.

John took photos of the ‘finish’ on the Baker’s Secret Teflon coating that was ruined cooking the roast for last Friday’s potluck.
See below for that story.

Tuesday, Apr 4

For Apr 3 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.15. Events: 1 H, 1 PP, 19 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 32 min with (max = 20 L/min). I did not do this oximetry before re-recording for tonight and wiping it out. However, I am sure it would have been good.

We had a rude awakening. A critter arrived into our house overnight. Rascal (cat) brought it over the fence (and maybe inside) and our dog delivered it to our bedroom. This appears to be a Bushy-tailed Woodrat (Neotoma cinerea), and a photo is here: Bushy
The dust pan is 9-10 inches across where Bushy is resting. Note the rounded ears, white feet, and bushy tail.

John left at 7:40 a.m. to prune at White Heron.

The pork roast for dinner last Friday John baked in a non-stick Baker’s Secret pan, with aluminum foil placed beneath it (and up over the pork loin). Cooking apparently adhered the foil to the surface. We soaked the pan in hot soapy water, but when the foil came up, it brought the coating with it. Seemed very strange because it was cooked in a “slow oven” (225°F) except for the last ½ hour.

RUINED TEFLON CAKE PAN
Left is the full pan; middle is the area of bubbled covering within the yellow frame (left pix); the large missing pieces of coating (upper right), where the metal of the pan shows.

I took it to Bi-Mart from where we bought it a couple years ago, to see if they would send it back to the company. I was surprised that they honored the lifetime guarantee and replaced with a slightly lighter version of the same sized pan. In addition, they were going to send the ruined one back to the company.

Currently, they had this 9 x 13 Baker’s Secret cake pan in house wares for $5.97.Replacement pan given. We have been appreciative of the business practices of Bi-Mart, with returns.

I went to get ice cream from Grocery Outlet, but they were out. While there, I went across the street to spend a $10 coupon from Jerrol’s. I applied it all to 3-ring dividers to use with our music endeavors around town.

Another photo awaited my arrival home. It is of my Brittany in CA.Daisy is happily running over parched land looking for birds. Photo taken by Deanna Azevedo, wife of Daisy’s field trainer. Almost all four feet are off the ground, and she’s smiling, with ears and tongue flying.

Another Tuesday stop yielded 40# of culled Yellow Delicious apples from the F.I.S.H. food bank. They are a little soft and aromatic. Still edible and also good for the deer.Collage of boxes of apples after unloading a large plastic bin that I will return tomorrow when I go play music there.Soon, “our” three deer came for dinner – mama and her twin fawns from last year. They are our “familiars” and co-exist with our cats, dog, squirrel, songbirds, and pheasant. The “winter” coats are looking ragged, but thankfully, the little girl made it through.

Wednesday, Apr 5

For Apr 4 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.17. Events: 9 H, 1 PP, 22 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 41 min with (max = 18 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 1 events <88% with overall avg., 92.2%. Pulse avg. 53.2, low 47.

John left at 7:40 a.m. for White Heron pruning.

This morning, I ran copies of two pieces of music for the players and we ended up using only one at the food bank soup kitchen. The other I need to change the key and add a 4th verse onto the lyrics, “You are My Sunshine.”

While we are on a sunny yellow theme, I’ll add a collage of our bunch of goldfinches who have dramatically changed in color brilliance over the past month since we first saw them. Collage of Goldfinches in our front yard. Red finch on the far left. If you look forward to Saturday, you’ll see the close-ups John took with his 200mm lens.

I took Gloria with me today to the food bank. We found some rolls for her and a Rosemary Olive Oil loaf for John. We had a nice music session with lots of players and singers there and joining in from the audience. Afterwards, we enjoyed a nice meal. The place was filled today.

I got off the note about the retired geographers’ cancelled meeting next Tuesday morning and included the news about Jim Brooks’ passing. I attached copies of two articles and his obituary that appeared in the local paper, Daily Record, for those without subscriptions, or who live out of town. James Brooks was a geography professor and also was CWU’s President for 17 years. The CWU Library is named for him. If you want to read the material, send me your email address and a request.

John noticed the horses seemed interested in something – watching/watching/watching – but not appearing alarmed. He guessed Turkeys, and went to confirm. He saw only 4 or 5 as they entered the woods, but likely there were more. In previous years, we have had as many as 12 or 13.

Thursday, Apr 6

For Apr 5 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.83. Events: 2 CSR, 5H, 14 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 1 min with (max = 15 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 85, 2 events <88% with overall avg., 92.6%. Pulse avg. 52.9, low 50.

Too much rain today, so no pruning.

Checked with Barb and Dee Eberhart and had a good conversation. They do not have email, so I needed to tell them about our former colleague. Dee retired from CWU when I came in 1988.

I went by the hospital for a blood draw for Pro Time (INR) and Potassium, for my Entresto med. They did not have the standing order properly listed, but drew two vials of blood anyway, asking me to report it to the doctor’s office. I did.

On my way to the Rehab for music, I stopped by the AAC to pick up my freely given computer carrier, given by Tiffany M. on the Buy Nothing East Eburg Facebook site: “Computer bag with padded center compartment. Two big pockets + center compartment + lots of smaller pockets. Includes a high-quality adjustable padded strap with metal clasps.” That will fit my laptop perfectly for trips out of the house. From there, I went to the Kittitas Medical Supply store for CPAP supplies. I have already met my Medicare deductible this year, so I owed no co-pay on $432.69 worth of tubing, mask, nasal pillows, and filters. {John says things of equal complexity and similar materials can be found in a hardware store for under $40.}

I went by Grocery Outlet to buy four 3 lb. packages of frozen blueberries that ended up being $1.16/lb. special deal, buy one, get one free. I forgot to get the Campbell soups on sale – Cream of Chicken and Cream of Mushroom; ends up being 66¢ / can, when getting three cans of each type.

I talked to the nurse at my PCP’s office in Cle Elum, but she had only received the INR results and not the Potassium. Currently, it is a mystery what happened to that blood. John thinks this guy got it:
I wasn’t home long before we went back to town for a geology lecture at the new Science II building on campus. The Ellensburg Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute sponsored it, and the community is invited. At least 100 folks attended. We both thoroughly enjoyed our evening.

Please do take the time to view the videos I made. You will not be disappointed.
Larry N. Smith: Glacial Lake Missoula and Its Giant Floods

Larry Smith came over from Butte, MT – a locale known for its Copper. Google Earth will show the big pit NE of town, and here is a link to a photo of the
Berkeley PitIntroduction to the topic and speaker:

“The Clark Fork River was dammed during the last ice age by a glacier at the current location of Lake Pend Oreille near the Idaho/Montana border. The lake rose and fell multiple times.  At its maximum, the lake was 2000 feet (610 m) deep at the ice dam, 1000 feet (305 m) deep at Missoula, and extended up multiple valleys in Montana. Glaciolacustrine sediments in the Clark Fork River valley at Garden Gulch, near Drummond, MT allow for documenting high-stand positions in glacial Lake Missoula and repeated subaerial exposure of the lake bottom. Sandy alluvial sediment below the glaciolacustrine section locally interfingers with the lowermost lake-bottom sediments, showing concurrent deposition of the alluvium with the transgressing lake. Cycles of lake deepening, subaerial exposure and periglacial modification are represented in a 9 m-thick section. Optical dating of quartz show that glacial Lake Missoula reached >65% of maximum capacity by 17-24 ka and either partially or completely drained twelve times from this position. Others have inferred that the lake rose and fell 35-90 times, but many of those events possibly did not reach the maximum elevation seen near Drummond.
Larry Smith is an associate professor in the Department of Geological Engineering at Montana Tech. He has been studying glacial Lake Missoula for about 17 years. He got interested in the lake deposits while working at the Montana Bureau of Mine and Geology. He studied the huge gravel deposits in the Alberton Gorge are, which were moved during cataclysmic lake drainages. The gravels host the aquifers that residents use for groundwater. Larry has Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D degrees in geology from University of California, Santa Cruz and the University of New Mexico. He has lived in Butte for 23½ years.

Larry Smith – Questions & Answers, April 6, ’17 IAF (after lecture)
A few questions

Friday, Mar 31

For Mar 30 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.95. Events: 2 CSR, 12 H, 3 PP, 13 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 9 min with (max = 21 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 84, 8 events <88% with overall avg., 92.6%. Pulse avg. 55.5, low 50. CPAP on all night. I cannot explain the low SpO2, unless the dirty filters needing changed are causing it.

Today, John left to prune if 7:40 a.m. Cameron called and it is not raining, but it looks pretty iffy here. They did have to retreat to the winery, sitting out a quickly passing rainstorm, and watching the clouds and angry skies. They could see the storm as it crossed the ridge 15 miles west of them. When it crossed the Columbia River just a short distance away, they were already in the winery. John and Cameron were the only pruners today.

I fed cats and started uploading movies I took last night. One of the most skittish ferals we are feeding comes in after the others finish. I managed to take his picture at the front door, in front of the wooden pallet protecting the dry food from the deer. He has been around in the shadows for months, but we thought it was a female, and called “her” Sally. Now that he has come closer for canned food, we realized he is a male. So, he became known as Salazar. He still runs when we open the door, but he has learned to come to the front porch for his vittles morning and night.

First, my morning concern involved being a Sherlock Holmes on my blood draw yesterday. I was at the Kittitas Valley Healthcare Hospital at 12:45 and only one phlebotomist was there (Nathan). I am supposed to have a standing order for an INR and a Potassium test (requiring two vials of blood). He found the standing order for the INR (Pro Time), but the potassium was not there (as had been sent 2 weeks ago for a second time from the KVH – Cle Elum doctor’s office). He drew the vials to submit to the lab, and explained what I needed to tell the office to do about the computer paperwork request, followed by a phone call to have the lab find it in the computer, print, and store in the correct file. I did my part yesterday. I spoke with the nurse and knew the Pro Time had been sent to the doctor (INR=2.4), but with no potassium reading. This is required for my new heart medication, Entresto.

This morning I first talked to the Cle Elum clinic and then to KVC Hospital’s lab technician, Dean. He was going to search for the missing vial, run the test, and send the results to the doctor’s office. I was to receive a phone call from them later in the day, on my message recorder, because I was leaving for Yakima as soon as John returned home. We had a 2:30 p.m. appointment for servicing my Forester / Mat was to help me with the phone and Bluetooth connection / John had 2 bottles of White Heron wine for Mat & his wife.

We made it there in time, but when I gave them my DL and insurance papers for a loaner car, they noted my insurance expired on Mar 16, 2017. I must have received them in the mail, and never separated the cards to get them into the glove compartments of our vehicles and into the envelopes with the car registration papers and the dates covered on the outside of the envelope. Meanwhile, I requested from my insurance provider (in Idaho), and they emailed me a 30-day temporary proof to use until Safeco replaces the cards. While still in the waiting room, I called the Yakima Heart Center to make an appointment with my cardiologist. That is going to be May 5th.

After receiving our car, and paying for the two new air filters that were filled with dust and cottonwood fluff, we drove to Costco for almost $90 of things, causing the doorman checking John out, to say, you did well to come out with less than $100. I noticed when starting the car, that my maintenance due light for technical inspection (an orange wrench), was still coming on the screen on the dash. I planned to go back anyway on my way home to have my new cell phone paired with the Forester’s Bluetooth technology. That took awhile, but we paired John’s phone and mine so that we can use it in that vehicle. I found out something I did not realize, which is that the phone only needs to be turned on, not opened, and can stay in your pocket or bag. You can make a call or accept one with the phone out of sight. Pretty neat. That process took awhile, but afterwards, I drove to the service department and they reset my service-needed light. I watched him do it, so now I know for the future. It is in the settings near where the clock is set.

Our trip home was partially light, although overcast, but no rain, while the trip down to Yakima was through torrential downpours – slightly exaggerating here, but my windshield wipers were on the highest speed.

I arrived home to no news from my doctor, so I have to imagine the vial of blood was never located. That is not a comforting thought from a hospital environment.

Frogs are croaking out back, and have been for many nights in a row. It does provide peaceful go-to-sleep music in harmony with the owls’ hooting, and the stream rushing, filled with mountain melt water. It is still cold so the frogs must be hardy.

Sat, April 7

For Apr 6 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=2.54. Events: 16 H, 12 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 18 min with (max = 14 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 90, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.6%. Pulse avg. 53.9, low 50. My Oximeter ran out of battery, so it recorded only for 2.5 hours (might affect the result parameters).

I awoke at 5:30 and thought it was 6:30. So, I may need an afternoon nap. I fed Rascal and cleaned the kitchen. Then I decided to scan the offers from the Subaru dealer we found when we returned yesterday evening from my 2014 Forester’s service, where they had to replace a cabin air filter (cost=$66.31, plus tax= $5.44) and an engine air filter ($29.74).
I composed a complaint email to ask for money back from the $49.95 they should have charged me instead of $66.31. There was also $5.24 tax on the charge for that filter. It took too much time to do this, so if my time were worth more than $1/hr the refund won’t cover it. But there is principle involved. I had to do it, and they’d better acknowledge my request. I sent it to the Service Manager, to two of the service consultants I dealt with, and to my friendly sales associate from whom we have bought 3 cars at their dealership. I also called another service consultant who helped me yesterday and told him the story. He does not have an email address, but he was in the shop today. I asked him to tell his manager to read his email.

Early morning phone call from Gloria, inviting me to a Ladies Tea at Pacifica, but it is at the same time that I have a dental appointment for a teeth cleaning.

I managed to wash a load of dishes and John took care of the outside chores. He finished planting his onion “sets”, and after brunch went to work on planting flowering almond tress he started from seeds from our neighbor. From a dozen seeds he has 3 baby trees. Now we will enjoy a nice brunch he fixed while I continued working on the blog. He served ham, cheese omelet, buttered sourdough roll sliced toast with Parmesan cheese, and pears.
Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Sunday, Mar 26

For Mar 25 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.62. Events: 1 CSR, 9 H, 18 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 33 min. Oximetry: SpO2 low 65 (spurious, when stopping CPAP), actual low was 89, 3 events <88% with overall avg., 92.3%. Pulse avg. 53.6, low 50.

John and I decided to travel to Costco, and stopped on the way to pick up from Lynn Davenport a gift of two nylon-washing bags with zippers to protect things with hooks or fringe, while being washed in the clothes washer. She is the one who gave me a photo of the Elk sign for last week’s blog, but now I received another I’ll put in here, after the Yakima story.

Our Yakima trip took 5 hrs total. I was already tired from late hours and interrupted sleep. It was an interesting weather day, with our experiencing fog, rain, and sunshine.

We first went to Home Depot and spent a $50 gift card from a friend. We had tried before and not found the items we had in mind. The items today we found included a new end for a damaged extension cord, a Husky Extension (100′) extension cord, and a container of growth hormone to treat cuttings from plants to encourage roots on a stem. We went a little over our $50, but put that card out of its misery.

Here’s the story behind the need for the first two items: John had his Ford truck plugged in to charge the battery out in the pole barn, and when he removed it, he did not roll and hang it. It was a big orange one (maybe looked like string cheese) that attracted a mouse, that chewed on and through it, very close to the plug-into end. So, while John can cut the short end and replace the connector, to repair it, he still wanted a new full and longer cord. The one that was chewed was a 50′; when he fixes it, he’ll still have about 40′ of cord. However, he bought a 100′ one to use for long distance outside activities.

The growth hormone is mostly to try and start new Shiro (round, yellow) Plum trees. The bottle has enough powder to do 100, so maybe other trees will get the treatment too. The Christmas (whatever) cactus needs some offspring, also.

We decided not to get gasoline at Costco, because it is 12¢ / gal cheaper in Ellensburg at Sunrise than at Costco. Also, until the end of March, we can use our Discover card, and get 5% off all gasoline purchases, but Costco only gives 4% off and won’t accept Discover. This week ended that 3-month savings. This photo came from Cindi Crawford Ackerlund, who works for the WSDOT and took it for me, after my request last week for one of the Elk warning signs along I-90 from Vantage to Ryegrass Summit. Go back and read last week’s blog to read the beginning and get the “rest of the story.” I put my request on the Facebook site, Community Connect Kittitas County. Amazing how requests can be fulfilled.

Monday, Mar 27

For Mar 26 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.95. Events: 6 H, 1 PP, 16 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 20 min with (max = 10 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 90, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.2%. Pulse avg. 54.5, low 50.

No rain today, so it will be a pruning day and John left a little late because of the ice on his windshield !!

I am starting my day with more photos from Cindi Crawford Ackerlund. Yesterday, she sent me the ELK NEXT 10 MILES photo, seen above, yesterday, and today, she took these photos on her way to work. She also sent me many others from Ryegrass Summit, but these two were my favorites from her trip to work this morning. These lovely photos of clouds, morning sunrise, and fog show the wind turbines and the cell tower at the top of Ryegrass Summit on I-90. This is the top of the hill where the road starts down to the Columbia River, 10 miles away and 2,000 feet lower. That cell tower is the one we “lean toward” from our house, occasionally, to get reception on my cell phone. John’s rarely gets reception on our property. Upsets me when he is outside, and might want to call me, or vice versa.

I have many projects to work on today; the largest is trying to get my new computer (4 months old) to work. It got dementia, or something overnight. I thought I had the SleepyHead software installed and running, but yesterday, I was unable to access the program that I had used on Saturday. Windows 10 on that machine is not working the same as the installation of it on my old laptop (where I am writing this now). On the Dell, I cannot access a list of programs on the system as John and I can do on our other two computers. I cannot restart or shut down that computer, only put it to sleep. I cannot display the date / time. If I don’t have a shortcut to the program on the desktop, I cannot use it. This is driving me nuts. John tried to help last night to no avail, because of lack of time and need to retire for early morning wake up. I will work more today, and he will try again when he gets back from pruning.

The issue (and one that my friend Sam in Idaho tried to help me solve, was that my Windows 10 software on my Dell was not properly configured, and I could not access a number of things). The most recent activity was Saturday with SleepyHead (free software). I downloaded an upgrade from the web. I put my data in from my CPAP machine’s SD card, and was pleased that it worked. However, I turned off the machine and went to bed. When I returned Sunday, I had no access to the software, and I could not reach the Program Control Settings option.

I talked for the first 30 min to a Costco Concierge Services guy, and when he wasn’t able to help, he put me through to Monica on the Dell support team in New Delhi, India. Now I have her direct email and that of her supervisor. I spoke and worked with her for well over an hour.

She listened to my problems, and finally, through Dell Support, connecting to my machine directly, so we both could see the problems I was describing. It took us 3 times, and my battery ran out on my telephone landline, but she returned the call, and I had gotten the other charged up phone normally near John. That reconnect came at 5:30 my time, and we talked (and worked another hour.

I do not know how or what all she actually changed, but I know the settings needed changed to allow me to press the Windows Key on the task bar (or on the key pad, 2 left of the space bar) to access things, which I have not been able to do for several months. She thinks that on a Windows update, my computer was corrupted. Shortly after John installed Win-10, last year, his system refused to come back on. Just black screens. He had to take it to town.
I am now able to shut down, restart, and do other things. I now have sound on my SongWriter software. I have access to Application software installed on my computer. The over 2-hour process ended up being quite amazing. I need time to transfer and download more programs, and check out all the access things she fixed, and hope there are no more needing adjustment, but I have a direct email to her and the Dell Support team to get assistance, if needed.

I worked on the Anniversary Dance program email with directions and menu, building location, and documentation for the potluck / jam practice on Friday.

Tuesday, Mar 28

For Mar 27 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.71. Events: 1 CSR, 5 H, 18 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 3 min with (max = 9 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 90, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.4%. Pulse avg. 55.6, low 49.

John left at 7:30 a.m. to prune at White Heron.

Charlie gets his gravel delivered. Fortunately, John will not have to go assist. The deliverer is bringing a tractor to help spread the gravel on the low spots of his driveway, where the creek flooded.

Dave Hazlett comes to trim Myst. I left a check for John to assist at 2:30, and I will not be home until after he leaves.

I called two places about Magnesium 500mg strength, number tablets, and price. Rite-Aid won my business at 2 cents/pill cheaper (with their buy two bottles for the price of one).

I went by the bread room on my way to Petscen$e, where they had my order ready and gave me $5 off, and on to the senior center, where I visited with the AmeriCorps person, Megan, I’m helping plan the Cajun music presentation for this Friday’s special event. Stayed for Jazzercise, and then visited Bi-Mart, Rite-Aid, Hospice Friends, and I also delivered some items from Costco to two different people.

Wednesday, Mar 29

For Mar 28 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.32. Events: 1 CSR, 2 H, 17 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 9 min with (max = 10 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.5%. Pulse avg. 57.0, low 52.

I spent a lot of time on the Haband order of a jacket for John, using a $15 gift certificate and finding out about 2 other discount codes bringing down the cost of the $24.99 jacket to $9.78. I now need to set up making an auto payment or a payment on the Haband account, as it now has a balance. Contact Comenity Bank by phone to pay no charge, and on line to set up autopay.

I punched holes in the music for Gerald/Charlie’s book and mine for tomorrow & put the lyrics in a binder for Gloria to follow. She was going to hear us play. Needed also to charge up my battery so the activities director could videotape our practice session.

Thursday, Mar 30

For Mar 29 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=2.71. Events: 3 CSR, 18 H, 15 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 39 min with (max = 17 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 84, 2 events <88% with overall avg., 92.6%. Pulse avg. 54.2, low 50.

It was sunny and John left for White Heron.

Playing at Pacifica (old Dry Creek), on our 5th Thursday day off, as a practice for April 1 night. A subgroup of the Kittitas Valley Fiddlers and Friends has played music for the dinner part of the party, for many years, for the Blue Agates Square & Round Dance club dinner (before and during), before their caller leads the dancing.

This video is a little ragged, because we had interruptions from residents going in and out the back door behind us, and one blind lady sitting next to the activities director pulling on her arm and talking to her while she was holding the camera. It was great, however, that we had the chance to practice for an hour and 10 minutes, with an appreciative and forgiving audience.

Video: practice – for Blue Agates Square and Round Dance 43rd Anniversary Dance Dinner

Video of practice session

Tonight, Amy and I met with Bret (CWU music prof.) at his house to practice Cajun music for tomorrow’s lunch. Laina will join us tomorrow when she gets out of class at Central. We should start the music a little after noon.

Friday, Mar 31

For Mar 30 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.18. Events: 3 CSR. 1 H, 14 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 35 min with (max = 13 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.7%. Pulse avg. 55.8, low 47.

I took a few photos at the start, and set up my camera for the video below.

John went with me, Haley came with Amy, and we met Bret there to have lunch ahead of the music with the crowd. The menu was sweet cornbread with a bowl of Jambalaya, with shrimp only, or also with chicken and sausage. Amy & Haley arriving in their Cajun attire, Bret setting up, and bringing a shaker for Haley to use, eating sweet cornbread, & butter with our Jambalaya, and Haley’s chair.

Here’s the group, after Laina arrived at noon.Midway with music and Haley joining with the shaker, right was our last song, a sing-along with the audience on Jambalaya. Amy played the flute, penny whistle, and washboard (with thimbles).

Within the music, you’ll see that a couple of people got up and danced.If you want to experience the 39 minutes of entertainment, you can watch the video below.

Cajun Music 3-31-17 AAC Special Event, Louisiana Bayou
Louisiana Bayou

We came home and started dealing with potluck items for the evening, and I set up my music to take along. We took separate cars.

John had cooked a pork loin roast and I carried along some rolls.
We had 19 people arriving there for dinner, starting before 6:00 p.m. and ending after 9:00 p.m. after playing all our music.Collage of some of the food brought: left top pork roast, beans, scalloped potatoes, fruit salad, rolls, Coleslaw, veggies & dip, Jello salad, decorated cupcakes that looked like real flowers.

Saturday, April 1

For Mar 31 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.55. Events: 2 CSR, 11 H, 16 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 5 min with (max = 13 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.1%. Pulse avg. 55.1, low 50.

I set up my “new” lighter aluminum tripod and connected my camera on the top, wrapped it in protective covering, and put in a carrying case for a folding chair. I got the tripod and the carrier from the Buy Nothing site at no cost. I’m taking it tonight to record the Kittitas Valley Fiddlers and Friends during our performance tonight (dinner music for the 43rd Anniversary Dance of the Blue Agate Square and Round Dance club’s annual event). We have played for them for many years, starting at the Swauk-Teanaway Grange. Tonight we are in the Armory on the edge of the Rodeo & Fairgrounds in Ellensburg.

I rearranged the music changes from last night’s practice session, worked on dishes, did data removal from my medical vital signs recording machines for my overnight sleep, and John managed to spend a little time on outside things. Onions need planting, so he is working on that recently snow covered soil.

We left for town a little before 1:00 to put gasoline in John’s car. The price has gone up dramatically at the cheapest station in town. We paid $2.549 at Circle K, but the normal cheapest station, Sunrise, was $2.759! I suppose I will drive my car back tonight to fill it up, before the price goes up again. We did that.

Our destination was a 90th birthday celebration for Carla Kaatz. We have known her since I arrived in Ellensburg, 29 years ago. I was a colleague with her husband, Marty, in the Geography Department at Central. Others from the department were there (George & Mary Ann Macinko, Ken & Jo Hammond, and Karl & Nancy Lillquist). John, Carla Kaatz, and Nancy

View on the way home – to show snow on Mission Ridge north of us on April 1.Mission Ridge – with a high point about 6,600 feet.

Tonight we leave before 5:00 to get gasoline in my car, and to get to the Armory by 5:20 for setup. After we play, we are treated to our dinner, while the dancers start their dancing.Evie is the standing fiddler.

Blue Agate Dance, 4/1/17 Music Before & During Dinner
Playing and eating

David Kay, solo, Last Verse, Sonny Don’t Go Away or Sonny’s Dream
A Mother’s Song

Sonny, don’t go away, I am here all alone
And your daddy’s a sailor who never comes home
And the nights are so long and the silence goes on
And I’m feelin’ so tired, I’m not all that strong
Sonny carries a load, though he’s barely a man
There ain’t much to do, yet he does what he can
He watches the sea from a room by the stairs
The waves keep on rollin’, they’ve done that for years
It’s a hundred miles to town, Sonny’s never been there
Yet he goes to the highway and stands there and stares
And the mail comes at four and the mailman is old
But he still keeps his dreams full of silver and gold
Sonny’s dreams can’t be real, they’re just stories he’s read
They’re just stars in his eyes, they’re just dreams in his head
Still he longs in his mind for the wild world outside
And I know I can’t hold him though I’ve tried
And I’ve tried, and I’ve tried
Sonny, don’t go away.
Evie & Peter Schuetz Dancing at Blue Agates Dance, 4-1-17

A fiddler tries square dancing

Sunday, April 2

For April 1 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.31. Events: 1 H, 1 OA, 17 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 30 min with (max = 7 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 83 (occurred off CPAP), 10 events <88% with overall avg., 92.2%. Pulse avg. 56.7, low 52.

I worked inside all day and John cleaned dog poop out of the fenced yard – among other chores.

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Monday, Mar 20

For Mar 19 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.06. Events: 7 H, 17 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 37 min with (max = 16 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.6%. Pulse avg. 54.9, low 50.

John left for pruning at 7:30 a.m. He saw a herd (100+) of elk north of I-90 on the way down the hill. Better on the hills than across the road, where they have caused so many accidents that the DOT put up a large number of warning signs on I-90. They are lighted text in large letters (similar to the one on the right below, but with a different wording to watch for ELK on the road, not cute small signs such as this in the middle below. Lynn Davenport sent me the actual picture of ELK NEXT 10 MILES warning near Vantage. Even though it is blurry, it gives you the idea. I found the middle sign on the web, and the one on the right was sent to me by Bonnie Hartman in Kittitas. Now you have a picture of the type of sign I was describing above.

Many accidents have caused them to put up the warning “lights.”
I asked on line (Facebook) for a photo of the I-90 signs and that’s how I got the ones on the left and right above.

This was a report in January this year, in the Wenatchee World. – A herd of some 250 elk have been crossing the highway to graze in the median, prompting the Washington State Patrol to warn motorists to slow down, especially at night.

In the last couple of weeks, vehicles have struck and killed about 30 elk along that stretch of highway, said Trooper Wright. No people have been seriously injured, but several cars have been damaged.

In 2016, Rich Landers of the Spokesman Review reported at least 65 elk have been killed this winter on a stretch of Interstate 90 just west of Vantage. It’s by far the worst year in memory for elk collisions in the area, the Yakima Herald reports.

Also in ’16, the report was that the herd consisted of 500 Elk.
A few Colockum Elk with Columbia River in the background.

I am supposed to hear from Lindsey D. today about coming for wood. I did not. Later in the week, I heard she was not back in town yet because of a relative’s need to go to the hospital.

I spent a lot of time trying to work on getting fiddlers and others to come to the Senior Center (Adult Activity Center) to play for next Friday’s Special Event, Louisiana Bayou.

Tuesday, Mar 21

For Mar 20 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.01. Events: 2 CSR, 7 H, 20 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 56 min with (max = 12 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low was 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.5%. Pulse avg. 53.2, low 50.

Active rain cancelled the trip to prune today.

I spent almost 2 hrs trying to unravel the problem with no mail delivery – apparently it is because the Post Office will not detour to deliver the mail north of the bridge construction over the irrigation canal on Naneum Road. The spot is south of Bar 14 road and north of Rader. More later.

I sent a few photos to Katrina at the AAC, with higher resolution to see if they would work for the brochure (quarterly) with the schedule. It is going to work and she has loaned me an SD card to put in my camera, so that I can use my camera and not theirs.

I left at a little before 1:00 for town, stopped off at the bread room, finding a loaf of English Muffin bread and a loaf of Rosemary Olive Oil bread. I went to the post office to pick up our mail that has been held and not delivered (with no notification), because the postal carrier was not approved for a deviation from Naneum Road. That should have occurred weeks ago, to get permission from USPO-Seattle to allow him to by-pass the bridge support construction over the highest irrigation canal in the valley. It is down Naneum Road from us almost 2 miles.

There was a long line and no one at the first window for rural non-delivery pick-up. The window was closed (I assume for lunch). I turned around and left, going on to the senior center for my Jazzercise exercise class. It was pouring rain.

Afterwards, I went to one of my normal stopping places on Tuesdays (Bi-Mart), to check my number, but I didn’t win anything today. I continued back to the P.O. When I got in the window was open, but they have done away with the express line to that window, and were taking people in only from the long line to the main counter, where now there was only one person. To say I was disturbed is an understatement. Earlier, I had just been frustrated. At least I finally made it to the counter and got my mail. In the mail was a 3-day priority package with onion shoots that should have been delivered last Thursday – with the notice, OPEN IMMEDIATELY.

Wednesday, Mar 22

For Mar 21 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.36. Events: 2 H, 14 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 29 min with (max = 19 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low was 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.5%. Pulse avg. 55.5, low 50.

John left just after 7:30 a.m. for pruning at White Heron.

I worked hard on several projects until walking out the door at almost 11:00. I got to Gloria’s about 11:20, and we went on to the Food Bank, where six of us entertained the lunch guests. It was a good meaty chicken w/ cheese pasta today, green salad, grapes in a cluster, and a piece of chocolate covered crispy cake for dessert.

Then we left for Super 1, where I picked up two lemon meringue pies (one for me and one for Gloria). My rain check ends the end of this week. Hers goes until 4-11. So, I used mine for 2, and kept hers. Amazingly, I saw John (back from the vineyard) at the bakery and gave him mine to buy and take home, and I took hers to the counter and checked out. Hers was double plastic bag wrapped and in a paper bag, which we left in the car in the shade while we exercised at SAIL. We had a large class today.

Thursday, Mar 23

For Mar 22 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.14. Events: 2 CSR, 1 CA, 8 H, 14 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 52 min with (max = 20 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 54.1%. Pulse avg. 54.1, low 48.

John left just after 7:30 a.m. for pruning at White Heron. Sadly before he left he found the skunk had dug under our front fence (we had closed the gate), and had eaten all the hard cat food in a large Pyrex bowl behind the barricade for the deer, at our front door. John put a bowl of food on top of the cable table with protecting rocks, and coffee cans, so the noise would alert us if we were home. John had not been gone very long at all when I heard a noise and jumped out of my chair and went to the door. There was a deer eating dry cat food from the soup bowl. I yelled and she went out over the 4′ fence. I picked up the bowl. The entire ruckus warned Woody I was home, and she came to the front door. I gave her some canned food, and put the little bowl of dry next to her by the front door. She ate out of both. After she left, I brought the bowls back inside.

I managed to finish assembling music that I had printed last night for two people by sorting & checking for the order, plus punching three holes in it.

I drank lots of water to go for a blood draw at KVCH. I got there but had to wait about a half hour, only to find out the paperwork on my standing order was not corrected as requested 2 weeks ago. It was supposed to have additional blood drawn for my potassium measurement. She went ahead and drew it. I called to report it to my PCP office.

From there I went to Hearthstone, with my several packages of stuff for different people I would see there. I left some in the car to distribute at the end of our playing. We had a huge bunch there, and played from before 2:00 until after 3:00. Everyone in the audience had a good time. We had 13 players/singers: Sharon, Maury, Dean, Kevin, Gerald, Charlie, Evie, Nancy, Amy & Haley, Anne, Rita, Dave, and Janet. Haley sang to Cockles & Mussels and danced to Irish Washerwoman. (She’s almost 4 the end of April). The residents, guests, and we absolutely love her. I’m sorry I don’t have a video.

Friday, Mar 24

For Mar 23 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=2.07. Events: 2 CSR, 1 CA, 11 H, 3 PP, 15 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 18 min with (max = 9 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.1%. Pulse avg. 53.3, low 48.

John did not go pruning as it has been raining (still is at 11:00 a.m.) since midnight. He had to feed the animals in the rain and put on his old green hard hat to do so.

I printed music and contacted the person needing it. In fact, I worked much of the afternoon on music for next Friday’s Louisiana Bayou performance at the senior center. Now I must work on music for Saturday night for the Blue Agates Square & Round Dance Dinner music.

The sun finally came out so John could do some outside work in the sun. Meanwhile, he also changed filters in our furnace and vacuumed two others. The other two larger ones require the dishwasher to wash one at a time, but it was not empty and not as much of a concern as the ones that when dirty, prevent airflow.

I squeezed in time to unload the dishwasher and start on a new load.

It took me 4 times to get the data from my oximeter into my graphing software. Now I have to move it to the CPAP software for comparison. In all the finagling, my software quit working so Saturday will be the time to load the new version of SleepyHead on my new computer. This one is a new one that we never included in the system before a few months ago. You can see the new package on the left and the dirty one on the right. We were able to buy a case at Ace Hardware at a decent and lower price than any other place in Ellensburg or Yakima. John vacuumed two of the other metal filters, and we left the two large ones (with better airflow) to be washed later. They have to be done one at a time running the cycle of the dishwasher.

I need to change the filter on my CPAP machine.

We had a visitor the past couple of days, and today I got his photo. We have had to move our dry cat food out of the place on the front porch because he finished it up two nights in a row, with the gate closed, and John barricading the holes where he was coming under the fence. He made another and came in over night, but the only thing available was a few shells of sunflower seeds under the feeder. Not nearly as filling as the dry cat food.On another stinky subject, John’s Letter to the Editor was published in the Daily Record today.Saturday, Mar 25

For Mar 24 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=2.05. Events: 12 H, 1 PP, 17 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 52 min with (max = 2 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 87, 1 event <88% with overall avg., 93.1%. Pulse avg. 52.6, low 47. Those results look very good, so the missing data are okay to wait for and not worry about.

Today is Stephen Brazeau’s celebration of life. I am not going to be able to attend, but I sent a nice note following up on my original sympathy letter. This one contains all my memories of the happy early childhood memories of what my father taught his “tomboy” – including playing Mumblety-peg, fishing, shooting guns, passing a football, throwing a baseball and softball, and working on cars. He died when I was in the 9th grade, but his teachings have followed me throughout my life. I am sure I inherited his musical abilities, as well as his brown eyes.

My next project (completed tonight before this was published) is to complete adding the newest version of SleepyHead software to my new laptop, because my version on my old one quit working this morning. I talked to people on the Australian Facebook site, a friend in Idaho, and a newly found friend in Germany!!!

Here is where I’ll start with the new computer: Download from here: https://sleepyhead.jedimark.net/
This is free software for anyone using a CPAP machine, and it is excellent.

Hope your week was fine.
Nancy and John

Still on the Naneum Fan

but is dumb as a stump.

Monday, Mar 13

For Mar 12 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=0.74. Events: 1 CSR, 5 H, 26 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 45 min with (max = 17 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 72 (spurious, when stopped CPAP), actual low was 90, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.1%. Pulse avg. 55.1, low 50.

First, the phone call yesterday evening, mentioned in last week’s blog, but then the photos arrived today, with this message from Jeri Conklin, my co-owner of our Brittany, call name Daisy (Cedaridge Kip’s Camelot Shay Tre’ JH). Angela Schillereff, Jeri Conklin, Kurt Conklin, Tim Schillereff, Scott Azevedo with Daisy (my Tre’). Shay Tre’ means the third Shay in our family of Brittanys. (Our first was Sirius Sashay; second was Cedaridge Legacy of Shay). Butt, the horse, is on the left.

Here’s Jeri’s note on Facebook with more photos, below:

“Congrats on her 2nd place in the Open Ltd Gun Dog stake at the Irish Setter Club of the Pacific under judges Tim and Angela Schillereff and handled by Scott Azevedo. 

Must say, Santa Nella Wildlife area was definitely new grounds for us. Lots of grass, really TALL grass. The tall grass wasn’t a problem for the setters and after all it was the Irish Setter Club of The Pacific :-). But for the Brittanys, it was pretty tall. When Daisy ran the first field was really tall grass and we pretty much just watched the grass moving as she ran forward. The back fields were less tall grass and she was way out front. Two very stylish points and great bird work. Scott has bonded with her and it shows. I didn’t get any pictures of her run as I was on horseback and J.R. doesn’t like to do the photo stop :-).

A 2nd place amongst the Setters was well earned. Thank you to our judges Tim and Angela Schillereff and of course Scott and Deanna Beals-Azevedo and Linda Azevedo at Nelson Kennels.

Here is a collage at the breakaway:Deanna at the line with Daisy; the breakaway in front of (behind judge Tim Schillereff’s horse).

I sent my first note to the Kittitas Valley Fiddlers & Friends (KV F&F) about Thursday & Saturday play dates. I also worked on the NW Geography Jobs Google Group’s list I manage for almost 800 people around the U.S., (not just the PNW).

I only got 6 hrs of sleep last night, had to get up early to see John off (he fixed his stuff and fed the animals before leaving to prune grapevines at White Heron, west of Quincy). I got up to fix breakfast and be ready to take a high dose of Amoxicillin before my dental appointment. My reason was to go to my dentist for the seating of the remaining crown, of two, on the last implant abutment. This was a second try for #18 (my 2nd Molar, left side) that 3 weeks ago did not fit properly and left me in hurtful shape (pain); yet its neighbor #19 was successful then.

However, today was not too bad except for four X-rays and the 1.5 hours in the chair. The work started a little late, but I was on the road by 11:40.

I wrote our best man, Bill Howard, who is a dentist in Ohio, about my experience and the shape of the tooth requiring flossing differently to keep clean. One has to wrap the floss around the tooth twice and then pull it out. This is what he said, “One thing that patients are seldom told is that implants are cylinder-shaped, but teeth are NOT (not even close!), so as a result food will often get trapped between implants and teeth and between adjacent implants, and this can be VERY annoying. Luckily, implants don’t decay (ever), but prolonged inflammation around implants can be dangerous. So KEEP ON FLOSSING! There are alternatives to ordinary floss, however, such as Super-Floss (or “fuzzy floss”) or Reach Floss Holders, and you may find that these are a little easier to use.” He’s absolutely correct. No one ever told me this – either my dentist or my dental surgeon. Thank goodness for friends.

Here is a crop of the last X-Ray. First, I had to make a stop at the grocery store, but then I drove home with a stopover for lunch and food pickup for my neighbors at the food bank soup kitchen. It was a nice meal, and I was hungry and ready to eat with my new tooth. We had Spanish rice, a choice of Burrito (I had ground beef – no Tofu, thank you), some tender corn niblets cooked with red peppers, cole slaw (Latin caulis “stem, stalk” + sla – “salad”, with carrots, a piece of chocolate layer cake with mocha crème filling, and milk.

I had figured I might not be in shape for my SAIL exercise class, also needed to do stuff at home, and deliver the hot food on my way. John arrived home almost at 2:00 because he needed gasoline and stopped by Super 1. Finally, about 4:15, I was completely ready for a nap. I think I stayed lying down for over an hour. I was not yet rested, but figured I had better get up.

Tuesday, Mar 14

For Mar 13 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 1.10. Events: 8 H, 20 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 18 min with (max = 17 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 94.3%. Pulse avg. 53.4, low 50.

John left for pruning a little late because of a missed go/no-go call. We missed a decision to prune that came in on my cell phone, which was turned off. With no reception here most of the time and a low charging capacity on my “new” phone, it is mostly turned off.

I have been taking care of issues with credit cards and bills, jobs list, and dishes started. I am doing my medical device capture and getting ready to switch to my new laptop. I finally completed one song on the new computer (using the new 2012 Songwriter software, a gift long ago from friends Sam and Marsha Scripter). I did not finish it until after 7:00 tonight. I was late getting home from town. I had several stops to pick up Jan/Feb music from last month I had left at an assisted living home, deliver some cupcakes for St. Patrick’s Day to two locations, visit with a friend at Briarwood who will be having heart surgery, (a valve replacement as I had). I checked by Bi-Mart as well as delivering some non-gluten bread to a friend.

I called Haband about loafers for John and me – responding to a promotional ad in a magazine. The magazine and the web site did not show the same information. To get the best price, I had to sign up for their rewards card (meaning they will push an e-mail ad our way about every other day). I get 30 days free but have to cancel before the time is up, or I will be changed a monthly fee.

We haven’t gotten USPS mail for 3 days. The County highway crew is repairing a bridge on Naneum Road over the High Line Canal, 3 miles south of us. I think the driver doesn’t want to take the extra 3 miles on the detour. John says not. If no mail on Monday, I’ll call the post office.

Below is worth watching. Evie is a wonderful friend and asset to our music group. She has been helping me with the music and just recently matched the words and the copy of notes from an old version I had, to fit appropriately, so we can now sing the words with the correct notes. We had just been playing it as an instrumental.

She is a talented musician and also a fantastic photographer and videographer. This is simply amazing. I know you will enjoy.

Piano and violin paired by Evie Schuetz:
Ashokan Farewell

Here is the song version with brothers performing:
Sean and Scott Holshouser

Wednesday, Mar 15

For Mar 14 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 1.70. Events: 1 CSR, 12 H, 16 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 3 min with (max = 15 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low was 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.7%. Pulse avg. 53.5, low 50.

John left just after 7:30 a.m. for pruning at White Heron.

This morning was a frustrating experience. Our Internet and WIFI modem kept going off and requiring a restart. I did it over a 3-hour period about 5 times. I was ready to call Cyber Police. This of course was within a short time span when I needed to make progress on our upcoming music.

I left before 11:00 to pick up Gloria to take with me to the Food Bank, AAC for SAIL, and by the bank (yep, Peggy I finally cashed the check you sent us). Then we went by Safeway for 79¢ 2-liter pop for John and to confirm my savings on buying 90 tablets of Coumadin for less than half the price at my normal pharmacy. I just picked up 90 tablets last week and paid almost $35. I can get it through GoodRX for only $15.83. So, I checked that out with the main pharmacist and he verified it. Now, I shall request my refill be passed along to them. It’s rather amazing the price difference for the same dosage of identical medicine at a different pharmacy. I would like to keep all my medicines at the same pharmacy, but when the cost is so radically different from one to another, there is no choice but to change. Further, from time to time the prices change up or down. From there, we went back to take Gloria by her mailbox. She lives in a newer subdivision with very nice houses along a ‘U’ shape.

A mail tower, called a Cluster Box Unit (CBU) by the USPS, is along the mid-point of the U. When the street and sidewalks were ice covered last month Gloria waited 3 days before going for her mail.

What a great invention!

Thursday, Mar 16

For Mar 15 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 2.70. Events: 18 H, 1 OA, 18 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 2 min with (max = 18 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low was 90, no events <88% with overall avg., 93.7%. Pulse avg. 59.2, low 50. (Oximeter off my finger most of the night, only recorded for 4 hrs).

John left just after 7:30 a.m. for pruning at White Heron.

Today we had a ton of people at Pacifica (senior living) and did pretty well. We had Maury, Manord, Gerald, Charlie, Minerva, Evie, Laina, Nancy, Amy, Haley, Rita, Dean, Anne, and Laura there – plus a large audience !!! Haley danced to Irish Washerwoman, sang to Cockles & Mussels, and danced to some others as well. She was all dressed Irish. I wish I’d taken a photo. Look below to Saturday and you can see her in her dress and hat.

Friday, Mar 17 — Happy St. Patrick’s Day

For Mar 16 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 0.82. Events: 7 H, 24 RERA. Time on 8 hrs 33 min with (max = 12 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 79 (spurious, when changing fingers on Oximeter), actual low was 90, zero events <88% with overall avg., 93.0%. Pulse avg. 55.4, low 51.

We are staying home to prepare for tomorrow. I received a call from Tim Van Beek (a Washington Trails contact with WA’s back country horse groups) inviting John to come to the Back Country Horsemen Rendezvous dinner at the Fairgrounds. The Rendezvous lasted F/S/S with a fancy fundraiser Saturday. Tim and several other WTA folks were going to hike in the morning and then come into EBRG. [more later]

I am pushing hard today to finish the music for an upcoming event and I need to cut John’s hair.

We called John’s cousin Ethel in PA who will be 99 on March 25. She sounded very good today, and so we told her we would call her the day after her birthday to hear how her party went. She was not planning one for this year, but was saving the happiness for her 100th next year! Some of her family had other ideas.

Still working on music while we talked. Now completed with this phase, at 10:30 pm, and emailed it off. Thank God for help from Evie in this endeavor. She’s a gem.

Saturday, Mar 18

For Mar 17 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 0.86. Events: 5 H, 18 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 48 min with (max = 15 L/min). Off CPAP at 4:30 a.m., but continued with my oximeter. Oximetry: SpO2 low 87 on CPAP (81 off CPAP), 1 events <88% on CPAP, 15 off CPAP), with overall avg., 92.5%. Pulse avg. 54.1, low 50.

Whoopee – Haircut accomplished, and then I was able to shower and wash my own hair. Sadly, I did not make it into any of the pictures at Briarwood yesterday, but I do have a couple to show you. Just as we walked in, I took this of John and Gloria. We had driven by her house and she followed us down to Briarwood because she had a hair appointment at 4:30, and we had to leave for the fairgrounds.John is jostling with the residents, wearing my Irish hat over his Nepalese wool hat. Gloria is my friend who was 91 in November.

John helped carry in all the stuff and left to shop for my meds and a few things at Super 1 and to fill the tank of the Crosstrek. Circle K was the cheapest place in town ($2.65); prices are all going back up again. He made it back to the group about 20 minutes into the hour of music. We visited with the group and residents after singing, only eating a tiny bit (I had some salads and he had two small pastries).

Amy and I had taken a few pictures before we started the music and then I took one of her family afterwards at the meal they served us.

Tomorrow is Lee Kiesel’s 85th birthday and our group knew that. Haley had painted a picture 3/15/17 to give to Lee as a present.

Here is a collage of the photo of the gifting with the artist by Lee’s side.Artist Haley (almost ~4) with Lee Kiesel ^ ^ ^ Lee with her gift.

Here is a close-up of the painting and the back of it.Amy’s photo of the painting; mine of the backside of the frame.

Here’s one last photo of our mascot, Haley Davison, with her family. Lee is the coordinator of all our events there, and fixes much of the meals we are offered. The rest is brought as potluck by residents.Amy in her Irish decor, Haley, and Dustin Davison, background are residents, with a bunch not showing in this picture. We had two tables of players with some residents sitting with us.

At 4:00 p.m., we said our thanks and left to meet our WTA friends at the Fairgrounds for the Back Country Horsemen Rendezvous dinner. We took a fast walk through the displays of the packers, John Wayne Trail Riders, and equipment tables. We wore our WTA shirts with the 50th Year patches. In the blog last Nov. 2016, we posted a photo of us in them, while attending the WTA Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, 11/4/16. I went to the dinner with my green shamrock jewelry still on from the Briarwood music time, and we wrapped my violin in a blanket to leave in the car, because wooden stringed instruments to not like changes in temperature.

The caterers served a great meal: meat (sirloin brisket au jus, chicken, with buttered roll, corn niblets with red pepper, mixed green salad with tomatoes and Parmesan, mashed red potatoes with peels, and for dessert, Dutch Oven baked blackberry or cherry cobbler (warm), with ice cream. John and another tablemate brought one for me. We shared the extra one. We bid adieu to everyone and other friends we met there, leaving before the auction, so we could get home to feed our horses before dark. We barely made it, thanks to the time change last Sunday.

Sunday, Mar 19

For Mar 18 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 0.61. Events: 5 H, 21 RERA. Time on 8 hrs 11 min with (max = 14 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.8%. Pulse avg. 54.4, low 50.

We were up early with a good night’s sleep, John fed the animals, cooked us a brunch midday, and I have been working on the blog and a bunch of other things.

I had left my camera in the music bag last night when I moved from John’s car to mine, so I had to retrieve it, but it was cold from all night in the car, so I did not want to take off the pictures until it warmed up. Not sure it would affect it, but cell phones should not be charged when cold, or phone calls made when too hot.

Somehow, I lost a bunch of recent birthdays and anniversary notices from the Jackie Lawson Website, but if I search “Jackie Lawson website” on the nancyb.hultquist@gmail.com account I am able to access them. I caught up through tomorrow, but am way behind my normal schedule.
I also washed a load of dishes, but now have returned to finishing the blog, now that I have the pix from yesterday off the camera.

We watched the Douglas-Tree Squirrel today. He brought a friend with him this morning, but they dined at separate stations. Here he is at the bird feeder. The bird feeder has had many Gold Finches recently, and their color is getting brighter. The birds stay away when the squirrel is there.John walked me out to the barn to see where there is some dry fire wood, which I will share tomorrow with a gal (the one who gave John his new leather wallet to replace his old torn up one). After that trip, we sat in the Crosstrek, turned on John’s cell phone, and figured how he could dial me from the car’s access to Bluetooth. I hope he tries it tomorrow instead of dialing on the phone. Then I hope he leaves it turned on, just in case there is an emergency and I have to call him. Unless it is on, while he drives, it would not interrupt the radio so he could answer on the steering wheel.
[John writes: The calling can be voice activated but has to be done precisely as it wants. “Call Nancy” will not work because the system is set for “Call Home Nancy” – then after it finds that number, you have to say “Dial.” If you don’t, it will respond with “say dial” or something. All this time there is stuff on one of the LCD screens {to touch, or not}, and there are also buttons on the left on the steering wheel. So, “she” talks with me, but she is as dumb as a stump. Have you heard auto accident rates are going up in the USA?]

Nancy finishes:
I also need to put White Heron’s phone number in his cell phone so he can dial it, once on the road, if necessary.

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Monday, Mar 6

For Mar 5 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 2.66. Events: 1 CSR, 18 H, 23 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 46 min with (max = 18 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 74 (spurious, when stopped CPAP), actual low was 87, 3 events <88% with overall avg., 91.7%. Pulse avg. 56.9, low 50.

John and I got the blog published yesterday at 5 minutes to Noon. Won’t happen this week.

I wrote the to the music group, KV F&F, about Thursday’s performance at the Meadows Place to get a final chair count by Wednesday night.

I called Pend Oreille {Pond O-ray} Shores about our timeshare payment there. The maintenance fees have increased again. We need to find a buyer for it because we no longer can use it. I used to use it when traveling to conferences and went to some interesting places – Honolulu, San Francisco, San Antonio, Salt Lake City, South Lake Tahoe, Whistler, and Denver, among others.

The first two links below are the last of the presentations Nick Zentner presented this year for the community, and have not been reported here in this blog yet. I am listing all of them here.

Mount Rainier’s Osceola Mudflow
Nick 1

Lake Chelan Geology
Nick 2

Flood Basalts of the Pacific Northwest
Nick 3

Ancient Rivers of the Pacific Northwest
Nick 4

I attended a presentation by a candidate for a new job in the Geography department at CWU. I drove in my own car with John, in his truck, by a home where a woman gave us a bunch of lumber … and we have been waiting for better weather to get his truck out for pickup.This was taken later in the week. The pieces were used in her girls’ bedrooms to make sleeping lofts with storage space. Perhaps something similar to those at this Link, ←click. We did not see the setup, just the pieces on the garage floor.

Tuesday, Mar 7

For Mar 6 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 0.41. Events: 3 H, 19 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 23 min with (max = 18 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 91.6%. Pulse avg. 55.0, low 50.

I paid several bills today (by phone). All our medical bills early in the year have to be paid “out-of-pocket” until we reach the deductible set by the contract.

I received several corrected “.mus” files from Evie. I am storing the .mus files from her for future use, when I install 2012 version of SongWriter on my new Dell laptop. Meanwhile, she has sent me pdf files to send to the group for our April play dates.

I renewed my account with the MedicAlert Foundation for 3 years at a significant savings over the yearly fee. I wear a bracelet with access to all my medical information in their data base. I printed my receipt and stored in Medical Info as well as digitally.

I went for my haircut today, and it snowed a ton. Went on to the Jazzercise meeting and only two of us were there. I paid my required money for the month ($2.00).

On my way home, I stopped at the pharmacy for John’s upped dosage (40mg) of Lisinopril and by Bi-Mart where I check my number on Tuesday. I won a box of Cheese Nips for the last digit of my number (a 1). Those look the same as Cheez-It (manufactured by Sunshine), but maybe a tiny bit smaller and manufactured by Nabisco.

Much of the evening was taken working on music.

John fixed a small pork roast with potatoes and veggies, and we had a pear.

Wednesday, Mar 8

For Mar 7 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 0.98. Events: 1 CSR, 7 H, 22 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 10 min with (max = 19 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 76 (spurious, stopped CPAP), actual low was 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 91.4%. Pulse avg. 53.0, low 50.

I carried my Irish music in to the Food Bank and handed out copies to the audience. We had probably 7 or 8 people singing through (or before) their dinner. We play from noon to 12:30, and serving begins at noon. Some of our followers come sing with us before eating. We had the normal pasta (I skipped) and a rice dish with sweet & sour chicken, salad, and a chocolate / cherry cake. From there on to the AAC with Gloria, where we participated in SAIL exercise.

I came home and worked more on music for April, after finding Dr. Dave’s arrival (USPS) of a piece of music we needed to complete our files, “Mountain Dew.” Unfortunately, the notes were not at all like the version we had been playing for years, but are more like Willie Nelson’s version and that of Little Jimmy Dickens. Evie spent 3 hours merging our notes with those that Jimmy was singing. We’re not even going to try to make them agree with the notes we sing, but those of us playing the melody will just have to listen and play certain parts by ear. At least all the timing and chords are there, with the lyrics matched. I have been fiddling it by ear for 25 years.

I still need to add the lyrics to the version of Songwriter 2012 Evie created, after I record Charlie’s version tomorrow. Then I will match the corrections to what we have been singing. It’s only a few word differences and additions, and we only have room for 3 verses to keep the score on one page, so we’ll eliminate the one about the preacher with his wife home sick from the flu.

Thursday, Mar 9

For Mar 8 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=3.00. Events: 4 CSR, 17 H, 19 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 40 min with (max = 20 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2, actual low while off CPAP was 85, 1 event <88% with overall avg., 93.2%. Pulse avg. 54.0, low 50.

I canceled next Tuesday’s meeting of the retired geographers because of illness and weather.

Meadows Place was our location today for the second time we’ve been through our playlist of mostly Irish music. We had 10 folks there and a happily involved audience. We also have a new request from a resident there for the song, “Laura’s Theme.”

I went to a 4:00 p.m. lecture in Dean for the third and final candidate for the new position hire.

Friday, Mar 10

For Mar 9 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 1.77. Events: 1 CSR, 1 CA, 1 OA, 11 H, 22 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 46 min with (max = 18 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 90, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.4%. Pulse avg. 53.3, low 50.

I received an early phone call from Katrina Douglas, the Coordinating Director of our senior center, Ellensburg Adult Activity Center (AAC) that Olivia Estill would be there today from 10:00 to 1:00. Olivia was our AmeriCorps volunteer leader for two years at the AAC. I did not want to miss seeing her. I called my friend, Gloria Swanson, and asked if she’d like me to stop and pick her up to go along for a visit.

Olivia is on spring break from the University of Louisville (Kentucky), where she is doing graduate work toward a Master of Science degree in Exercise Physiology.Olivia with Gloria . . . . . . . . . Olivia with Nancy

We had a nice visit before others arrived and so we hugged again and went on our way for some grocery shopping, and I came back home to work on my planned endeavor today to get my new laptop working.

While in town, we shopped at Super 1, and then went to fill my car with gas. It was down toward empty.

John left early for a pruning day, expected back about 1:30. As I was leaving the house, I called Cameron Fries (the winemaker / owner), whom I knew carried his phone and would be close to John during pruning, and told him I was going to town and why. I actually made it home before he did, but at least he would have been aware of my location, if I wasn’t home.

Saturday, Mar 11

For Mar 10 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 2.37. Events: 1 CSR, 1 OA, 16 H, 18 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 10 min with (max = 19 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 79 (spurious, finger change of oximeter), actual low was 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.2%. Pulse avg. 54.5, low 47.

I stayed home today, installed SongWriter (SW) 2012 on my new laptop, and the goal was to finish the music for April. It didn’t quite happen as planned.

John did not go for his North Bend First Aid Class this weekend. Travel over the pass was risky because of the potential for freezing on the road surface and/or avalanches. {Seems not to have developed, but it did rain much of the 2 days. That would not have been fun.} Crews did do some avalanche work during the late hours.

This was a wild and frustrating day. I decided I had to begin using my new laptop (now 3 months old), but I needed to install some software I needed and did not have on the laptop I am using to create the blog.

The first thing to do was find space to set up it beside the old so I could access the web for instructions about the new Dell Inspiron-13-5378 setup and view the user manual. That meant setting up another power extension cord. The new laptop does not have a CD/DVD drive, and I had bought an external one, now residing in the new laptop’s carrier. Not all my software to install on the new one is on a CD, so I have to get creative with passing information on a USB drive. I have 3 USB slots on the new one. One is taken with the wireless mouse I have. The next most important thing was figuring out where the “on” switch was on the new machine. I had used it previously but it was not in my mind and is not obvious.

I first tried to access the Internet from my new computer, and found I no longer had a connection since we had changed modems a month ago. I have been on it before, so at first I didn’t understand what happened, except it was before we changed the modem for a different one. I called Fairpoint.

It took us a very long time on the phone with Fairpoint technical support in Ohio to get the modem working with the new computer to access the Internet. The password I was using was old and we did not have the correct new one. John was home and searched all his notes on the change. We tried many things with the fellow to no avail. Finally, John asked him if he could give him instructions to go through his computer to access the information. Lo, yes. We tried 3 codes that did not work, from various addresses printed on the back of the modem. Then he tried having John log in directly to the modem to locate the security key password. FINALLY, we found a combination that worked. Now I was able to access the Internet from the Dell, once I used that PW. I think we had gone through a total of 5 others before getting the winner. I was entering them on the new one.

The next thing I did was install SongWriter 2012 from a CD (after I figured out how to connect my external CD / DVD reader via a USB port).

Unfortunately, I had also not turned on WIFI during the change of password to get to the Internet. We need it to communicate with our printer through the Aether. Later in the afternoon, I managed to figure that out and how to turn it on. I wanted/expected to be able to print from the Dell. However, not yet.

When I tried, I realized I did not have the EPSON printer driver on the Dell. Duh! It’s new. That took another hour of our time and effort. I am so happy John was home. He located the proper package of software for our WF-3540 printer on the Epson site, then I had to download it and installed it. I could not have known how to find all needed info. We do have the original CD that came with the printer – but no CD drive on the Dell (I’d already removed it). Besides, had I used that 2012/2013 version I still would have had to download any updates from the intervening years.

I needed to print a PDF file but also had to download Adobe Acrobat and install. Did that. Progress! Okay. Now I’m set for the immediate music preparation need for the group in April. I am not able to run Word on the new machine, however, because apparently the Microsoft Office Suite had not properly been activated when installed. I will work on that as the next major project, but first I have to complete this set of music to be able to share with the work my friend Evie is doing with our SongWriter songs, to get them out to the group.

I transferred all my songwriter 2010 stuff with SW 2012 stuff to a USB drive, opened it, and edited the text on Ashokan Farewell, a recent one that Evie sent me to match notes with the lyrics. She transcribed it from a video on line. Here is a link:

Ashokan Farewell ~ Sean and Scott Holshouser

I am still a long way from making the Toshiba to Dell laptops transition, but I did have a good start today. Serious frustration is now subsiding.

In between all the excitement, I washed a load of dishes.
And, we went outside to take photographs and have John show me what he intended to do with the shed where I have been parking my car. He says a garage is the place where you store several hundred dollars worth of stuff/junk, while you park the multi-thousand dollar car in the driveway.

He worked on outside projects – including starting to clear out the other side of the 3-sided shed where I park my car, so that he can get his 2016 Crosstrek under cover. This is requiring a lot of sorting, tossing, and giveaway. Here’s one thing to go, so he demoed it so that I might put a note on line to give it away, or contact first a friend who owns and runs a gym to see if she wants it or wants to share with a client or friend. She is the one who gave John his sweatpants for loosely dressing after his Dec 1 surgery.John demoing the Tony Little Gazelle in front of the 3-sided shed.
John on the Gazelle

The video is only a few seconds. Many years ago, I bought this at a yard sale for $5, without the monitor. They now sell new for over $100 and higher, depending on the model. I have no clue which model this this is.

While outside, he also showed me boxes of old stuff (some back to 1995) of academic materials. Most of it can be recycled or some passed along to colleagues or students. John figures if I do a box a day, we might finish in a couple of years. He brought in two boxes for me to begin with that were behind the Gazelle. I’m sure I will be seeing more soon, as he tries to make room for his car. He also plans to build shelves between our two cars.

John made a pizza for lunch and froze the half we did not eat. Later, the individual pieces will make a quick lunch. Dinner was a cheeseburger, with home fries, no bun.

Sunday, Mar 12

For Mar 11 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 0.97. Events: x CSR, 8 H, 16 RERA. Time on 8 hrs 16 min with (max = 17 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 41 (spurious, stopped CPAP), actual low was 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.3%. Pulse avg. 54.9, low 42 (spurious), actual 51.

Daylight Saving Time sprung forward last night, but we actually still got an extra hour sleep over our normal. We were both quite tired. I was exhausted from “interfacing” with my new laptop, now calling her “Raisin Dell.” I have been too busy using the old to move, download software, and install. I still have a lot of work to transfer or reinstall the stuff I need (such as the software to record my daily parameters from the CPAP machine and coordinate it with the data from my Oximeter I wear all night. The only reason I’m on the CPAP crap is to control my SpO2 – the oxygen percentage in my blood to organs while I sleep. It needs to remain above 88, preferably 90%. Organs deteriorate without a good oxygen supply. It is a real threat if it goes below 80.

Several definitions of the acronym SpO2 exist, but this is a good combined one that satisfies my use of it: “Saturation of arterial blood with Oxygen, expressed as a percentage, as measured by Pulse Oximetry.” Further clarification, “Hemoglobin is the protein molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body’s tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs.” Concern for the higher percentage of oxygen in the blood is to help the heart function more efficiently. Blood oxygen levels below 80 percent may affect organ function.

The sun has been in and out today. Temperatures stayed above freezing during the night, melting snow and ice, but no problems here on the Fan. In town, the usual places have water where it ought not to be; seems not to be serious – and will continue not to be if the weather forecast is correct for the rest of the week.
Significant cold has moved to the east coast. Washington D.C.’s famous Cherry blossoms may take a hit. Some were blooming this past week. Ouch!

As I was putting the final touches before publishing the blog, we had a phone call from Jeri Conklin that our Daisy took a 2nd place, in the Open Limited Gun Dog stake for the Irish Setter Club of the Pacific’s field trial in California. There were 13 starters and only one other Brittany in the stake. She ran a wonderful forward race and had a nice clean find. The grass was 3’ high so no pictures in this blog. Her new trainer is going to finish her Master Hunter title, and the next Hunt Test is coming up, with him handling.

While I was still proofing the first entry to WordPress, John made all the ingredients for Nachos. I put mine together while he finished, and then came to check the text and check all the links while he ate his supper.

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Monday, Feb 27

For Feb 26 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 1.25. Events: 1 CSR, 7 H, 10 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 35 min with (max = 18 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 82 (spurious, when CPAP stopped), actual low while off CPAP was 84, 14 events <88% with overall avg., 90.5%. Pulse avg. 57.1, low 53.

Last night was a big rush to replace 5-6 songs I sent to the group. I had revised them, but then sent the old versions. Evie found the mistake, so I worked on them last night, made new pdf files, and sent to Evie for a recheck. We’re exceptionally fortunate to have Evie’s help with the scores on music we play.

John fixed supper last night: slow-oven beef roast, baked potato, succotash, and a sliced apple. The photo below shows one of the fruit packing facilities in Quincy WA. Apples are being brought out of Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage, sorted, boxed, and sent around the US and the World. This is on the way to the vineyard, where John goes.To the left of Starr Ranch is Double Diamond – they have one layer boxes of Honey Crisp apples at 10 pounds for $10. For the largest apples, you get only 9, and some of those weigh about 20 ounces.

We need to get ready to go and leave here by 10:45 this morning, first to Ellensburg for 2 appointments, and then to Yakima for 3 more (2 are at the Yakima Heart Center, one is Costco).

I spent most of my time at home working on the songs to be sent to the music group. We had 6 to correct.

Now tonight I started making the master to take for copying tomorrow, when I go to town for Jazzercise. I’ve made relatively good progress on printing all, but need to organize and write numbers on them.

Tuesday, Feb 28

For Feb 27 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 0.96. Events: 1 CSR, 6 H, 11 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 18 min with (max = 18 L/min). Oximetry: I overrode it before collecting. Nothing to report.

Last minute changes to the masters and I figured out the count of copies I needed to make. I made time to go to Bi-Mart, then off to copy sheet music for the March/April program for Kittitas Valley Fiddlers & Friends, get to Jazzercise, and other Tuesday things.

I kind of lost this day from a headache all day and night.

I did manage to get the copies done for the music group and to go to Jazzercise class. We only had three people there today.

Wednesday, Mar 1

For Feb 28 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 2.22. Events: 2 CSR, 1 OA, 16 H, 18 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 40 min with (max = 20 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.8%. Pulse avg. 54.7, low 50.

I picked up Gloria and we attended music and lunch at the F.I.S.H. Food Bank & SAIL exercise at the AAC. Whenever we (John & Nancy) visit the Food Bank (I’m playing during lunch so am there once each week), there are goods going or coming, with mostly volunteers doing the work. This week was a “Food Bank” awareness time – big article in the local paper. They had more apples today than they could use for the registered clients so I came home with about 15 pounds of mixed varieties.

Afterwards we came home via Grocery Outlet for things both of us needed. Gloria gave me 2 dozen chocolate chip cookies she made. First thing we did when I got home was snack on a few direct from the microwave oven – warm is best. I was only home a short while, when I went back to the music building for a presentation I had heard about from Gerard Hogan (long time acquaintance from CWU Library).

I took my old camera and made some videos for the evening. The most intriguing was a trombone solo backing up a riveting video.

TROMBONE .. played by John S. Neurohr

The music is a composition, “I Was Like Wow” written in 2006 by Jacob TV, born in 1951, as Jacob Ter Veldhuis, the composer. This contains comments about the Iraqi war from more than one person in a background video during the trombone solo.

Thursday, Mar 2

For Mar 1 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 3.23. Events: 3 CSR, 18 H, 12 RERA. Time on 5 hrs 34 min with (max = 19 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 94.3%. Pulse avg. 53.9, low 50.

I got up early and stayed up because this is “music day” and I had many things to do.
My afternoon started in town at the Rehab, where I visited 2 residents and then went to give out music to those needing it and to help set up. We had a good bunch of players and did fairly well on our first time through the much-changed old music and several brand new ones for our group. Because March includes St. Patrick’s Day, we have Irish tunes included that we only play in spring.

I left there for a talk at CWU – a lecture by a candidate to fill a geography position, mostly Urban and Regional/primarily Rural Planning (Jackson County Oregon) topics in the talk, with some introduction to Agri-Business in Wisconsin. I didn’t get home until dark. Another candidate speaks this coming Monday and Thursday at 4:00 in the afternoon. I know I’m retired, but I’m still interested in the department and wish for its success.

Friday, Mar 3

For Mar 2 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 1.82. Events: 5 CSR, 1 CA, 15 H, 26 RERA. Time on 8 hrs 42 min with (max = 19 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 89, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.5.x%. Pulse avg. 55.2, low 50.

We delivered two filing cabinets – bottom/left corner of image –including a boxed one (from a Bi-Mart sale about 15 years ago) and the green one the box is leaning against.

Cari sent the “Thank you” (other photos) with 2 of her children, Kimber and Kiegen, who helped her assemble the 2-drawer Oak filing cabinet. It is behind the children and, also, to the far right of the collage. The grayish plastic filing cabinets (under orange arrow, center) will be brought here when empty. We, or someone, may think of a new use for them. Part of an old 4-drawer (in disrepair) green wood cabinet shows in the photo. Neither of us remembers where that one came from. Hope she can rehabilitate it and make it feel its got a new life. She has a friend with whom to share it.

John went with me to the National Anthem Day Party and I dressed in my flag jacket and red/white/blue pants. Those pants are navy blue with a white and red stripe down the side of each leg.

We had a carbohydrate meal (southern style macaroni & cheese with several cheeses), salads and bread. (It was a potluck; and I took 3 garlic bread loaves and another open-face pizza loaf which they heated there to save me the effort and to have it hot). Two tables of food donated by the attendees. This I took before more food arrived and before the main dish and salad were on the end of the left table. You can see that below.Erica serves Mac & Cheese, Alice serves salad, John grabs a brownie & cookie for dessert, with one of 3 tables showing behind him; some individual pizzas arrived on the main table as well as more cookies with the desserts. The plate on the right is colorful.

After lunch, we had a fun trivia game with facts and questions about the Flag, about the National Anthem, and about America. As a group, we flunked. Remedial learning was suggested.

I also took photos to share on Facebook on the Ellensburg Adult Activity Center site, and we paid the yearly dues for John because I keep dragging him to more of the events.

From there, John and I went to the Dollar Tree in Yakima for two Irish green hats for us, and from there to Stewart Subaru to pick up John’s new (used) 2016 Crosstrek Subaru, with 11067 miles, one of the dealership’s “loaners” or Customer Courtesy Cars. This one had been used by CWU administrators or coaches for much of its mileage, as part of Subaru’s “Love Promise” program. The non-working radio had been replaced with a new one, and we paid for an engine block heater. We like to have one vehicle with a block heater and the 2009 Outback (traded in) was that car. On the way home, we realized the heater was not blowing hot air, and the steering had a slight cant to the right. The probable heater failure cause is a valve that is not releasing the hot water to the right place after the engine warms up. Last Monday (Presidents’ Day), we chose the Crosstrek over the Impreza because of the higher clearance, for our snowy driveway and occasionally the roads. We test drove both, but decided the “ride” was also nicer on the Crosstrek.

About 6:00 p.m., I asked John to take my photo while I still had on my flag “costume.”I’m holding a celebratory bottle of White Heron Roussanne [<-- link, click] wine in both photos. Our Brittany is named Cedaridge Vintage Roussanne (call name Annie). The one on the right shows the resident deer watching the goings on.

Saturday, Mar 4

For Mar 3 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 1.32. Events: 1 CSR, 10 H, 24 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 36 min with (max = 18 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 74 spurious changing fingers on oximeter, actual low, 87, 1 events <88% with overall avg., 92.5%. Pulse avg. 55.9, low 50.

I used the sunny weather to take photos of John with his new car.John’s celebration of bringing home a 2016 Subaru Crosstrek. Subaru calls ones with a hatch for the cargo space a “5-door.” The Crosstrek is smaller than the Outback and Forester, gets slightly better mpg of gasoline, and is less pricey. The “sky blue” color is officially named Hyper Blue Pearl. Their Impreza comes in a similar color called Island Blue Pearl, but we think you would have to park them side-by-side to see the difference. I wanted to take this photo to show the snow (March 4th) and blue sky that matches the car’s fancily named color. The bucket hat’s color is similar and the jeans are – as usual – dirty.

We checked out the heater’s hot air again, and it is not working. John is leaving this afternoon to take the Crosstrek for an evaluation by the mechanics at Stewart Subaru. And, they will also look at the steering pulling to the right problem we noticed on our return trip on level roads. The Sales Manager (also a John F.) confirmed the heater was not functioning, so gave John a 2017 Impreza, with lots of fancy gizmos, to drive home. The steering issue could be one or more of many things.
If you care, click here.

For supper, we will have crock-pot (tender) pork and rice and sliced apple. Key Lime pie with strawberries is on the menu for dessert.

Sunday, Mar 5

For Mar 5 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 0.52. Events: 4 H, 11 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 43 min with (max = 14 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 76 (spurious, turning off CPAP), actual low was 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.4%. Pulse avg. 55.6, low 50.

During the night we got about 3 inches of snow. It is melting from the concrete, wood posts, trees, and such things, but generally just incorporating itself into the 18 inches on the ground.
Nothing on tap today, except to put out the blog, and continue with projects.

This morning I sent a sympathy letter to friends in Yakima. Father & husband (Steven Brazeau) passed across the rainbow bridge Tuesday this week at a young age, 64. Daughter Sara was one of John’s favorite students many years ago (and Nancy’s too). The family grew various fruits in Naches, Steve made wine, and we got to know them all.

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan

Monday, Feb 20 President’s Day

For Feb 19 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 2.96. Events: 3 CSR, 1 OA, 17 H, 20 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 19 min with (max = 19 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.0%. Pulse avg. 53.5 , low 50.

We are going to Yakima today to visit Costco and the Subaru dealer.

I’m in the process of trying to get through electronic submission of a letter of recommendation (LOR) to the National Taiwan University through their computer application process. It is not working well. Says it accepts it, but then doesn’t record that it has. The potential student cannot submit his application until all the LORs are in the system.

We were gone a long time today, leaving in snow this morning, experiencing rain, then sun, and arriving home after the sunset (which we enjoyed on the way home – through the car window).
John was driving and I took this looking southwest, across in front of him.

Tuesday, Feb 21

For Feb 20 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 1.97. Events: 1 CSR, 13 H, 16 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 37 min with (max = 13 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 93.0%. Pulse avg. 52.9, low 50.

I got up in time to take my Amoxicillin at 8:30 for the dentist visit. John is such a sweetie, not only feeding the outside animals, but me too, so I didn’t have to take the antibiotics on an empty stomach. My trip to the dentist was not pleasant today.

I carried my laptop computer to town with me because of sections of time existing between events, when I could work on projects.

From the dental office, I called the AAC about lunch, made a reservation, and went after the dental appointment for tuna casserole, with fruit. I stayed there working on music in the computer room, but with my own laptop, so I had access to the Internet to check email. About 1:00, I left for the F.I.S.H. food bank to pick up some paperwork, and then made a couple other stops before returning to the AAC for Jazzercise. I nearly got hit by a guy running a stop sign from Pearl across Manitoba, on which I was traveling east. Good thing my reflexes are rapid. I did not have a stop sign, and a person across from the guy had stopped at his stop sign. Perhaps the guy thought I had a stop sign, but I didn’t. I slammed on my brakes as he pulled out in front of me. After Jazzercise I drove home, and then was suffering from pain from my dental trip. I expected my gums to ache, having not been used for many years on the left side bottom where the implant closest to the front of my mouth was covered with a crown over the abutment. No one planned for the back tooth’s crown not to fit. They are going to send it back to the lab to see if it can be reformed to fit. So, that meant another round of impressions for the bite. I will be getting a copy of the X-ray so I can show John what went wrong and why it didn’t fit.

Now I just have to hope this solution works, because the alternative is to go back to the oral surgeon and have him remove some of the bone graft in the back of my mouth. I’m certainly praying that doesn’t happen. I don’t really have any desire to go through dental gum / jaw surgery (as required for implants) ever again in my life. I’ll go without a tooth before that happens. (Yet, I doubt I will have the option to leave the abutment from the implant there, without a top). Don’t know why not. That’s what I have now. Finally my pain stopped. I haven’t had a tooth in there in awhile so I’m occasionally biting my tongue, (maybe it is my cheek), if not careful. The second-worst pain from the 2 hours at the dentist was my neck. I think it was because of tensing up, and the way I was sitting in the chair. I had some Percoset on hand, so I took one before bedtime. I still awoke during the night and in the morning with a pain in my neck. I took more Oxycodone to make it through Wednesday’s activities.

I’ll end with the good news of the day. My co-owned Brittany (with Jeri Conklin), in California, Cedaridge Kip’s Camelot Shay Tre’ JH (Daisy), has been in Los Banos, with a new trainer, Scott. She had quit retrieving, but Jeri got her over that, to be retrieving to hand, before taking her for an evaluation. She has continued retrieving to Scott and running well for him in the field. Last week, she had a good run, without birds. This week is a picture from training of her on point, with a followed retrieve to hand. We are happy she is back with the program.

Wednesday, Feb 22

For Feb 21 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI=1.74. Events: 12 H, 16 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 54 min with (max = 21 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 88, 0 events <88% with overall avg., 92.3%. Pulse avg. 54.1, low 49.

I am hurting from my dental experience yesterday.

Spent most of the morning finalizing the downloaded form to accompany the letter of recommendation for Brian Scanlon to a Master’s Program in Geography at the National Taiwan University.

I also picked up my friend Gloria, took her along with me to the Food Bank, played music, she sang with us, we ate, visited folks at our table, and then we went to our SAIL exercise class. Afterwards, I stopped for canned beef bits cat food for our one furry fussy feral cat, Woody.

Thursday, Feb 23

For Feb 22 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 2.85. Events: 2 CSR, 18 H, 16 RERA. Time on 6 hrs 19 min with (max = 19 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 86, 2 events <88% with overall avg., 92.6%. Pulse avg. 53.9, low 50.

I had to redo and reissue electronically my letter to Taiwan and work on bill payments.

Our music group played at Hearthstone today to a large and happy group.

John and I went to the annual meeting and dinner for the Kittitas County Conservation District. We enjoyed a nice evening with an excellent meal of tri tip, chicken, salad, veggies, roll, and dessert to celebrate the 75th year of the Kittitas County Conservation District. Anna Lael presented an historical PowerPoint. John worked there as a volunteer for the Plant Sale and handled thousands of native trees and shrubs and I supervised interns there for years from the late 1990s. We enjoyed visiting with employees and with a “retired to farming” one John and I both worked a lot with during her sojourn there. We also visited with others (new and old acquaintances).

Friday, Feb 24

For Feb 23 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 2.85. Events: 4 CSR, 20 H, 30 RERA. Time on 7 hrs 0 min with (max = 16 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 86, 5 events <88% with overall avg., 91.9%. Pulse avg. 54.8, low 50.

I contacted the hospital and my primary care physician’s office to see if the data from my blood draw yesterday had been reported. I received my INR (1.7, a little low). My joke with the nurse, when it’s low, is that I can have a glass of wine with dinner. Alcohol raises it. I went by the hospital and filled out a form to allow me to get all my results for now and through the next year. I will have the lab results from yesterday to take with me Monday morning to the cardiologist, in case they did not make it, or for me to check myself in advance of my appointment, particularly my potassium, which can be affected by the new medication. I did not realize until alerted this morning (phone call), that I am scheduled for a device check (on my defibrillator) before seeing my cardiologist.

I went to the Scholarship luncheon for a short time and on to the AAC for Bingo. I won a pink shopping bag from Knudson’s Lumber, my 4th gift they donated that I have won. Now I will go by and thank them for it. My normal procedure is to wear the clothing (or carry the bag in this case), go by the store, and thank them for their donation to community events.

Then I left for the gym across from my bank to pick up boxes for a gal I know to use for her sister for moving. I loaded the back of my car and then dropped them off on my way home. The family is visually impaired without transportation for such needs.

I came home to work more on music.

Saturday, Feb 25

For Feb 24 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 2.55. Events: 2 CSR, 19 H, 18 RERA. Time on 8 hrs 31 min with (max = 19 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 45 spurious (stopped 3:15 a.m.), actual low, 87, 3 events <88% with overall avg., 92.9%. Pulse avg. 53.6, low 48.

This morning we saw our first red-winged blackbirds of the season in our tree and feeder (two males). Our neighbor Ken saw them over a week ago. He claims to have heard the arrival of Redwings means spring is near. We missed that tale. This is not one of my best photos, but it gives you the idea. There is both red and yellow on the male’s wings. The female doesn’t have those markings at all – and is a brown one. I should add a photo from my friend Elise in N. Jersey, who captured a picture of a pair (not usually seen together). Because we are in the final throes of this publication, I’ll just refer you to the web [Link; scroll down to Adult Female – click] to see how a female is marked.Today, I went to the senior violin recital for Laina Brown at noon. She has been playing with our group at assisted-living homes. She is a student at CWU and the teacher of our other latest joining violinist, Evie Scheutz. Below is the invitation she handed everyone in the group when we played two weeks ago at the Meadows Place here in town. At the end of our group’s playing, she performed a solo of a complicated piece of music that will be in part of her recital (it is the second song below, captured on video). Listen for the “harmonics” (a very high pitched octave above the string it’s played on by barely touching the string). The residents and we were excited by her sharing her talents.Laina’s invitation and her performance program today. Dr. Duane Funderburk was her pianist. I’m in the process of contacting him to find out if he is kin to the Geography professor at Central almost 50 years ago, Dr. Robert S. Funderburk.

Feb 25, 2017 Senior Recital CWU, These links are to two songs she played from memory (rather than reading the music on a stand), and this occurred in the middle of her performance.

Laina Brown #1

Laina’s 2nd Song

At the end of her senior recital, here she is with her hubby, Matt.Matt and Laina Brown, 2-25-17

I came home to a note from Jeri about Daisy’s run today: “ Was doing great, nice forward run and then she ran up a hill to a pile of rocks, jumped on the rocks, a covey flushed in her face, and the temptation got to her 🙂 – she chased off the rocks, Scott called “Whoa”, she skidded to a stop, and watched the rest fly away. So oh well, it was fun to watch while it lasted. She is really looking good.”
She has two more trials this season, one a Brittany trial and the other a GWP one. She will be competing in Open Gun Dog and Open Limited Gun Dog. We have our fingers crossed.

We enjoyed an hour-long conversation with John’s sister, Peggy Hultquist, in Parma. She called us on her cell phone.

Sunday, Feb 26

For Feb 25 CPAP. Reported figures. AHI= 5.10. Events: 1 CSR, 24 H, 6 RERA. Time on 4 hrs 42 min with (max = 16 L/min). Oximetry: SpO2 low 74 spurious, actual low, 88, 3 events <88% with overall avg., 92.3%. Pulse avg. 54.5, low 47. Awoke to snow and birds at the feeder, and the Ringneck Rooster has appeared, too. Birds are mostly Finches, with a Junco occasionally. A few weeks ago the Juncos came (first), but seemed to have moved on.

Little birds in the snow

Whoopee! I finished emailing the music for March and April out to the group, so that those who can print their own will, and save me the Xeroxing costs. Now, however, I have to organize the master copy to take Tuesday for copying. We are adding 7 songs that have to be added to the existing copies of the music from last year. If anyone wants scores of our songs that I have produced, and you are not already on my distribution list, just let me know, and I will forward on email to you. Much of this playlist is Irish.

Hope your week was fine.

Nancy and John
Still on the Naneum Fan