You may have heard there were fires in Spokane county—there have been, terrible where they were; we’d had humidity down to 6% due to no rain and the heat—and somewhere east of us and north of us we had fire start in areas with a lot of tall fir trees—and a tall fir can be 50-feet-ish.
For a number of days we had pretty thick smoke and an air quality index approaching 500, meaning hazardous to breathe. Even the house across the street was hazed. We have air purifiers and we used them and just stayed in, except to go out and feed the fishes.
Then nature gave us a day of soaking rain, which was the best we could ask for, and the firefighters were able to get the upper hand.
So we’re ok, except for the people that aren’t. Very small-scale compared to Maui, moderately flat terrain, and more resources within instant reach. So not to worry for us.
I think the heat has broken for us: we’re getting indications of a fall pattern coming. We’re doing fine. Jane hurt her knee moving a freezer into the house, and she swears it’s healing, but she also has an upcoming appointment with her bone doc for pain in that knee already, and they will take x-rays.
Mostly we are doing very well and taking it fairly easy. The smoke canceled the lake cruise and mini-party I annually have as my birthday get-together, and people’s schedules can’t rebook, so Jane and I and possibly a couple of friends of that group will figure something celebratory. We might even do the cruise just by ourselves. I haven’t missed a year since forever, and I do look forward to it. Life is pretty good.
As a backhanded blessing, the stocks of COVID masks are finding new uses to filter out the smoke and airborne crap from fires… better than a snootful of nasty chemical-impregnated ash and whatnot.
Glad to hear that you and Jane are hanging in there and managing. Here in rainy New England, the temperature has come down to early Fall more or less and this weekend was mostly sunny (ignoring the sudden burst of local rain this morning) but the humidity frequently is not fun.
It’s a shame the cruise had to be postponed. The ShejiCon cruise was a highlight we fondly remember. Enjoy your time on the lake. We’ll be happy you can celebrate in a safe manner.
Well, the fires are a scourge wherever they start, loss of life from a fast moving fire is unimaginable. My brother and his wife had to evacuate the Elk fire (Oregon Rd) – they were able to get their horse and kitty out but had to leave the chickens. They set up a sprinkler on their way out. When they returned two days later they had lost everything – except the chickens! Everyone stay safe no matter where you are and Take care.
Do tell about the new fishies! Tell me you’ve a red & black this time.
Maybe. I acquired one, about 5″—but I have not seen him in the last while, and we have been unable to keep the pond clear this year—combination of time and energy and just too much going on…. I HOPE I have one.
Glad to hear it. I did worry. Everything here is pretty copacetic. It’s been hot and dry here too, but not as hot as other places. Most exciting thing that has happened here was Mom’s hearing aid broke. We were able to get it fixed for $350 vs $5K for a new set. The new hearing aids are “tuned” to only amplify the frequencies where you have loss and are Bluetooth compatible to link with your phone, but that’s still a lot of money to shell out to get hearing aids for a 99-year-old woman who may not use them for more than a couple of years.
Yes, tell about the fish! What kinds? Pix?
Happy Birthday, CJ!
Yes, many happy returns of the day and may you feast to your heart’s content while engaging in a fun activity! Or separately as you wish.
best wishes for a Most Happy Birthday!
Sorry I didn’t wish you birthday felicitations on the day, but life has been hectic here. ReadyGuy completed his radiation treatments for cancer on Friday. Today our dear friend who came down from Washington state for two months to assist during daily 160 mile drives to get his treatments, departed for home and already the house seems lonely without the extra bustle of a third adult and an extra dog. The doctors are optimistic that ReadyGuy’s two different types of cancer have both been eradicated. We are terribly lucky to have great friends and stellar doctors. We wish you and Jane the same for many orbits around the system primary.
Oh, fingers crossed and wishes on every star I can see for ReadyGuy that both cancers of fully eradicated!
Oof, yes, may the cancers begone!
Threw my back out over the holiday weekend for no discernible reason, and spent much of it in the close company of a heating pad, muscle relaxants and Tylenol. That planned floor laying will have to wait.
Try lying ON the floor.
LOL thanks. I found the hardest mattress ever, which is a joy if you prefer sleeping on a hard mattress and/or need it for a back issue, and spent much of the last weekend on it. This did not fit in well with the long-planned 3 days of RPGing over the holiday.
So wishing him the good outcome I’ve had. It’s a long hard slog, but it’s beatable. Hugs from me, from Jane, for you both.
Checking in after a break – house move etc. At age 80 myself glad to see you’re all still hangin’ in. Gagging for Alliance Unbound – another 12 months away?!! Any chance of a draft preview? Promise I’ll read it, comment (confidentially) and not share it. Love
PS: Mr Mephistopeles – my black cat avatar – left us recently. Much missed.
So sorry.
sorry to hear that, Toe
I have a request. ReadyGuy is presently immunocompromised due to Radiation therapy. Our Daughter-in-Law is undergoing an at-risk pregnancy and our grandchild will arrive in the middle of Covid, flu, and RSV season. Please, if you can, get any or all of your immunizations this fall so that the most defenseless among us are protected. Don’t put it off because you’ll take your chances; do it to protect those around you even if you don’t know them personally. The more people who are immunized, the fewer people pass on these diseases. Your good example makes everyone around you safer.
As an aside, I had the Moderna SpikeVax anti-Covid jab (one arm) and it was less painful than any of the previous Covid vaccines. It was taken in conjunction with high dose flu vaccine and RSV vaccine (second arm) (all on the same day). Your mileage may vary.
Absolutely! We’ll be getting ours in a week or so, so that we are at peak immunization for a family wedding on the 29th. We’re all in this together, we need to make certain we do our utmost that all of us get through this together.
Endurance and a good outcome for ReadyGuy: radiation is a b—tch, and may you have a wonderful, new grandchild to hold in your arms soon.
Yeah, can finally agree on “OK here”. Diagnosed with MBL, monoclonal B-cell leucocytosis, a month ago and waiting until today for a prognosis based on tests of blood drawn then. Confirmed to be MBL, with small chances of progressing to full-up CLL disease.
That sounds like both good and bad news, Paul. I hope things go well.
Paul, Here’s hoping that the monoclonal B-cell leucocytosis stays basically benign with no CLL!
Thank you. It could’ve certainly been worse. I was told 1-2% per year develop CLL. Seems like nothing, but doing the math that’s a 90-95% survival rate for 5 years, 81-90% for 10 years. Not BAD, but not negligible either! And that;s just numbers.
I hope to change from a habitual way of life, to an intentional way. Not that I’m going to overturn my life as an Aspie. While waiting for my prognosis, I planted my 50 sqft garlic bed. The other day, a dozen pots of Iris reticulata. Soon, another pot or two of violet native Iris tenax seed, that gives me some hope of something bluer, when it blooms in 3-4 years.
To borrow from the old Buddhist aphorism: “If you walk, just walk. If you sit, just sit; but whatever you do, don’t wobble.”
UMMON
Damn! Can we have the editor back? Please?
Good wishes on that. Hope you stay well and strong.
Thank you, appreciated. Doesn’t seem like it’s all that uncommon hereabouts these days.
I was so very glad to read that your oncologist is pleased and that Jane’s hip replacements are working better. Thank you so very much for Defiance, which is downloading as I write, and which I will likely finish with great pleasure before the hardback arrives.
Don’t forget the Defiance book launch live streams!
Tuesday 17 October 2023 at 6pm EDT on facebook.com/@BakkaPhoenixBooks
or
Wednesday 18 October 2023 at 7pm EDT on facebook.com/@JimFreund/streams.
I hope to have finished my first read through by then.
I got my copy of Defiance on Wednesday. Finished it Thursday afternoon. I greatly appreciate the history of Ilisidi.
I’ve been involved with my own medical issues. The neurologist did an electromyogram on my right arm last month, the conclusion is that the nerve will never recover. So, I’ll never have full use of my right hand again, unless a miracle happens. Guitar is out, kendo is out, I have to type with my left hand.
I have lost one cat, last December, Sydney was 14-1/2, and had developed lymphoma. I had taken her to the vet that morning and he ran a bunch of tests on her, then released her back to me. I had her on my lap when she passed at 1:50 PM. In late February, I adopted a very senior male cat. His previous staff had declawed all four paws. Freddie hid under the bed for one day, then climbed up on the bed with me the next day. He’s extremely laid back, very affectionate, and “guards” me at night. In August, I broke down and adopted an 8 week old kitten at the shelter. She is a handful, but she and Freddie get along very well. She gets spayed the first Monday of November. The shelter couldn’t o it as she was under 3 pounds in weight. She’s significantly bigger now, so it won’t be a strain. But Tina has little needles on all four paws, which she will keep.
Joe, so sorry to hear about your hand limitation, and the loss of Sydney. We hope Freddie and Tina will provide solace and help fill a Sydney-sized hole.
So sorry about the neurological problems; and about the loss. SO glad about the arriving kitties.