August
31
So
I made it through August. When I was a kid, I always felt that the summer was
over after my mother's birthcay (the 13th), but for sure the end of August was
the end of summer. We went back to school on the Tuesday after Labor Day, and
I still don't understand this starting school before then. We ended the school
year round June 20. What are they doing these days that they have to start so
early? Ah, well.
I
went into zombie mode last night and I was very late, so I didn't do anything
at all today. I didn't get the information about the bulletin for some reason,
so I didn't even do that.
The
weather was cool and breezy, but not as windy as yesterday. The high
temperature was only 70º and the wind was from the north with gusts up to 29
mph, although it has died down now. The clouds went away before dawn and the
day was clear and blue. The humidity was relatively low, too, which I appreciated.
There should be a bitsy moon up there somewhere, but I can't see it.
Grayson
slept, although he was getting antsy before he got his dinner. I guess he was
annoyed with me because he hasn't asked for a lap sit.
And
that's all there is. Sue reads her email late, usually, so I will wait for
that, but I'm going to try for an early night tonight. it's a clear, cool
night in the field.
August
30
Late,
but not as late as usual. I think I got enough sleep, so I was late getting
up, but I didn't fiddle around quite as long as usual. I filled the north end
pill dispensers, finally, end I put away the clean load of mostly
underwear.
After
I had breakfast - a lovely avocado toast, the first one in a while - I filled
the north end pill dispensers. That was weird. I have apparently lost a bottle
of acidophilus I thought I had. I've looked all over here and I can't find it.
Oh, well. I'm not sure it was doing any good anyway.
I
ate breakfast so late that I was very late eating dinner, particularly because
before I did, I divided up the chicken and put it in the freezer. I've gone
for boneless thighs lately and I bought two packages so I could freeze single
servings. I'm not too sure about freezing that stuff, because I think it may
have been frozen and thawed at the store, but I have to freeze it to keep it.
Anyway, I had a nice dinner, if very late.
the
weather was cool and windy. The temperature did get to 74º, but the wind is
still very strong, with gusts up to 45 mph from the north this morning. i'm
sorry to day that the camera hung up because I had to reboot the computer
(thanks, Norton) and it frequently does that. I think it was cloudy this
morning, cleared up during the afternoon and clouded up again around sunset.
With that wind, anything might have blown in. IT wasn't cool enough to have to
close all the windows, but I had to close the one in the powder room after the
door blew shut twice.
Grayson
got two lap sits and he wanted another one, but I was eating then. Mostly he
sleeps, but he follows me around and sleeps wherever I am. He was on my lap
when the door slammed the second time, and he did not like that, so he had to
get up and check it out.
And
that was my day. I won't say it was very productive, but I did accomplish a
few things that needed to be done. Now it's a cool, windy night in the field
and I need to go to bed.
August
29
Well,
I didn't. I was late again, of course, because I just sat. I got nearly 8
hours' sleep, but then I did nothing. Sigh. Everything is still there to do,
but I didn't.
The
dentist called to change my appointment in October, but that happens a lot.
The new date is several days earlier than it was, which is good. I begin to
get edgy about driving much around the middle of October.
the
weather turned out nice but windy. We had a teensy bit of rain between 6 and 7
AM - couldn't prove it by me - and the morning was cloudy, but it cleared up
around noon, at least until 8 PM, when it clouded up again. The high temperature
was 81º. but it didn't feel like that because we had a strong northwest wind
with gusts up to 37 mph. I don't think it got that warm here, witn the wind
coming straight at me over the water. I didn't sweat.
Grayson
slept until I didn't move and he started complaining. He wanted my dinne, but
he didn't get it, of course. He had his own, and it's a variety he likes.
So
that's it. Someday I'll be able to put two days of doing something together,
but not so far. Tonight I'm tired and headachy, so I think I will try for an
early bedtime.
It's
a warm, windy night in the field.
August
28
Oops,
almost forgo .t, so I'm up at the north end and I'm sure it will be
excruciating, but I actually did something today and I want to document it.
Of
course I was much later than I wanted to be last night, but I got 8 hours'
sleep with only one wakeup, which seemed to be enough, at least this time. I
fiddled around until Grayson was complaining, but then I got dressed.
I
had a piece of cheese and fed the cat, and then I brought in the groceries.
Everything was all rightt except the watermelon, which was all water. It was
very ripe when I got it, so I wasn't surprised. I had some other dead fruit in
the fridge, so I triple bagged everything, and getting that stuff out gave me
enough room to get everything in. The veggie drawer is stuffed. I still have
lots to do, because I got some meat that needs to repackaged and frozen, and
there is a whole lot of trash that needs to be taken out, but at least I've
made a start. I also put away the last shipment of cat food and filled the
kibble bowls. Whew.
Then
I had a real dinner for a change, nicely balanced, before I went back into
zombie mode, and I completely forgot about this until I got to the north end.
The
weather wasn't worth bothering about. It didn't rain here, but it was dull and
gray and humid. The nigh temperature was 75º and there was a southwest wind
with gusts up to 24 mph, although it has gone calm lately. There are some
thunderstorms way west of us, over Minnesota, that are moving very slowly and
may or may not get here tomorrow. It was clear at sunset.
Grayson
mostly slept somewhere around me. He gave up a hairball in the great room
overnight, so I don't think he feels very good. He was complaining before I
got him his dinner, and he looked on with approval while I filled the kibble
bowls. He got to lick my yogurt dish, so he was happy.
And
that's it. I do feel good about having done something, even though it
wasn't a lot. It would be nice to put together two useful days in a row, but I
don't know about that.
It's
a clear (I think) cool night in the field and I had less trouble with this
hookup than I feared.
August
27for most
I
was much too late last night, didn't get enough sleep again, and didn't do
anything at all. I kept slipping into zombie mode.
The
weather was warm, but there was a nice wind and the humidity was relatively
low, so it wasn't uncomfortable. The high temperature was 79º and the wind
was from the southwest with gusts up to 29 mph. It was mostly cloudy, with
just a few rays of sunshine every so often.
Grayson
mostly slept, as usual, but he got two lap sits and purred through both of
them, although he didn't stay too long either time.
And
that was it. Now it's a cloudy, breezy night in the field, and I think there
is some rain on the way.
August
26
Ugh.
I am tired.
I
was later than I wanted to be last night, of course - it just takes too long
to do anything - but I went right to sleep. However, after the first time I
got up, after about 4 hours, I never got back into a deep, so I didn't get a
whole lot of sleep.
Anyway,
I got up and moved about as fast as i can and I even got to read my funnies
before I left. I got my blood draw and got to the doctor's office about when I
was supposed to, although I had to wait because the person behind the counter
was gone.
They've
now finally put all the Medicare questions on paper, which is much better than
having to have a nurse ask them all and enter them into the computer. I had
another nice long chat with Walter, mostly about my kidneys and my potassium,
although I did tell him about all my pains since I saw him last.
Then
I was off to Pat's, where I did considerable damage, but I expect it to be
most of a month before I need much else, except for maybe lettuce. I have some
nice things to eat and I had deli salads for dinner. I don't do that much,
because it's expensive, but it seemed right for tonight.
I
was exhausted by the time I got the car loaded, but I had to get gas. Well,
that turned out to be a disaster. I wanted to get it at Pat's, because I had
accrued 45¢ in loyalty points, so I went there. The first pump I went to
wouldn't read my loyalty card and then stopped pumping after 0.6 gallon - for
which it wanted to charge me 15¢, but all the buttons stopped working. So I
went to another pump. That one never asked for my loyalty card = and it
refused to pump any gas at all. By that time, I was getting frustrated, and
besides, getting back into the car was getting harder every time.
So
I went back to the BP station that is very close to Pat's. First, I found that
their gas is 20¢ a gallon cheaper than Pat's, but the only button on the
screen (oh, how I hate those screens with their stupid ads!) was "Pay
Inside" so I pumped my gas - a tad over 15 gallons - and then I had to
figure out how to get into the store to pay, because there was a car parked
right in front of the part of the sidewalk that didn't have a step, but by the
time I got turned around, they had left. When I complained about not being
able to pay at the pump, I discovered that they have gone minimalist - if you
want to pay at the pump, you just enter your card, no buttons to push! OK, now
I know that. It still cost me $66, but that was a lot less than it would have
at Pat's without the loyalty card. I'm sorry to lose the 20¢ a gallon that
expires at the end of the month, but Pat's pumps have been screwed up for a
couple of months anyway. A very nice lady helped me back into the car.
Then
I was on my way home, which was a nice, sedate ride, since I and six other
cars were behind a guy towing a big camper. Fortunately, he wasn't going to
the fort, so I lost him in Copper Harbor.
Then
there wss the gate, I had just gotten out of my car when a person came up
behind me and said "I'm going in, too. Would you like me to open the
gate?" Well, duh. So he did and besides, he helped me back into the car.
When
I got home, I just sat for half an hour before I started trying to get the
stuff out of the car and into the breezeway. I finally did it, but it must
have taken more than an hour and a half. I was moving very slowly. My hips are
all right, but my knees hurt. by the end, I was sitting on the bumper between
loads.
Most
of the stuff is still in the breezeway, but I'll move it tomorrow. It's mostly
lettuce and bread anyway and I have some things to get out of the fridge
first.
When
I finally got to the computer, there was an important message from Walter. My
potassium is too low again. He wants me to stop my diuretic for a couple of
days and get my blood tested next week again. I did not want to go back to
Laurium next week, since I'll be there on the 13th anyway, but oh, wel.
The
weather was lovely. The high temperature here was 75º and the humidity was
lower than it's been in quie a while, at least when it was warm. The dew point
is down around 50º, plus or minus. There was a nice breeze from the north, at
least until lately. Of course, it was warmer and more windy in Calumet.
Looking at my shadow when I'm out in the wind, I can see where the Greeks got
the idea of Medusa. When the wind blows my hair straight up, it looks just
like that.
Grayson
got a short lap sit before I left and at one point while I was moving the
groceries, he sat down and looked out the door and yawned at me. I do not
think that's a friendly gesture from a cat. I opened the door to get the cold
stuff and he ran out and sniffed around, but when I asked him if he was coming
back in, he did. Don't tell me he doesn't understand what I say! He thought he
wanted my dinner - there was tuna pasta - but he didn't get any. He does not
like it when I go away.
So
that was my day and now I have to wait a while to go to bed, because they're
playing Beethoven's Sixth - my first or second most favorite. I think it's
clouded up, but it's a warm summer night in the field.
August
25
So
I inverted, didn't get enough sleep and wasted the rest of the day. I did get
a bath, so I'm clean for the doctor, but that's it, and I'm not going to get
enough sleep tonight, either. My appointment is at 11;05 AM and I need to
allow at least half an hour beforehand to get my blood draw - fortunately, I
don't have to fast.
The
weather was a good day to ignore the outside. The high temperature was 66º
and there was a bit of northeast wind. It was cloudy all day and we had a
couple of hours of fog between 5:30 and 7:30 PM. Of course, it was horribly
humid.
Grayson
slept, although about the time I took my bath he was beginning to get antsy. I
guess I made him mad, because I haven't seen him since he ate.
So
that's it. I think I will read my funnies, but not the rest of my emails. It's
a cool, dank night in the field.
August
24
Well,
I didn't quite invert last night, but I was late. I slept well, of course, but
not for very long. I'm going to be late tonight, too, but maybe not that
late.
I
didn't do much, but I did get the bulletin out, finally. The information came
through too late yesterday for me to do it last night. For the second week in
a row, I managed to do it without any mistakes. I realized i'd been leaning
too heavily on my editor and I need to be more careful, because after next
week, there will be a lot of things to change every week as the fall season
starts (shudder!).
The
weather was yucky. It was cloudy all day and between noon and 1 PM, we had
0.06" of rain, a nice, gentle rain that I wished would have lasted all
day. I don't know if we're in an official drought, but we haven't had
very much rain in the middle of Lake Superior this summer. There's been enough
south of us, particularly south of Houghton over to Marquette, but most of it
has missed us. It's why I've often thought the marine forecast is a much more
accurate one for us. Anyway, the high temperature was 67º. There wasn't much
wind, but what there was, was from the southeast, which is very unusual for
us. Of course, it was sopping humid. Yuck.
Grayson
thought so, too. However, he shouted at me a couple of times for some reason
and he got two lap sits and two nice tummy rubs. He wanted more canned food
and he wanted my dinner, too, but he didn't get any of it. He has plenty of
kibble.
So
that's all there was. My joints have a hard time on startup, but once I begin
to move, they're all right. I'm sure that after I do Pat's on Friday my hip
will be very sore, but otherwise, it's tolerable. I've been trying not to put
too much weight on my shoulder and it's feeling better, although I still get
twinges in it. At least I'm not in much pain when I'm lying down anymore,
which should make it easier for me to sleep. And I need to go do that now.
It's
a cool, dank, cloudy night in the field.
August
23
Sorry
about last night. I got into one of the other unfinished stories and it was so
absorbing, i just kept reading.
Sunday
night, I tried going to bed early again and I had another lousy night.
Apparently, if I want to reset my internal clock, I'm going to have to do it
in stages. And I couldn't blame it on not taking my pills, either, because I
did.
So
I was late getting up yesterday and I didn't do anything - didn't even eat
very much. Then I started reading and I inverted. Sigh.
So
I only got around 7 hours' sleep today, and maybe I can sleep tonight. i did
get two meals for a change. I made barbequed pork chops, and I used a
different sauce recipe, which I like much better. Grandma's sauce is too sweet
- it has two tablespoons of sugar in about a cup of sauce. This one is the one
we usually used for oven "barbequed" ribs and it's a little spicier
and not nearly as sweet. I used the last chops I got and I was afraid they had
been in the fridge too long before I froze them, but they hadn't been and I
nailed the cooking time, so they are good. I have another meal. Pat's
"Cowboy" chops are big, but I like them because they don't have
nearly as much of that center part that is so free of fat that it's dry and
cardboardy. The ones I got were smaller than usual and had almost none of that
part, so I really enjoyed it. I still don't feel like cooking much, but the
freezer is getting cleaned out again, so I'm eating whatever I have on hand.
Sunday
night started out clear, and around midnight, I turned over and looked out the
windows and it was as clear out as I've seen it in a very long time. My summer
star, Arcturus, was shining brightly almost behind the crossbar in the window
and there were so many other stars I couldn't recognize. So i got up and
switched out the nightlights to my old red one and when I looked out the north
window, there was Polaris, and at that point, the Big Dipper hadn't disappeared
behind the trees yet and I could even see the sstar that attaches the handle
to the bowl, which is the dimmest one. It was lovely. When I was up a while
later, though, while I guess you'd say it was still clear, the seeing had gone
to pot and there wasn't as much to see.
The
weather yesterday was nice. It started out clear, but it clouded up until
around sunset, when it apparently cleared up again. The high temperature was
72º and the wind was from the north, for a while in the 10-20 mph range,
although it died down late in the afternoon. It was humid.
Today
was humid, too. There was a little sunshine in the morning, but mostly it was
cloudy. The high temperature was 69º and there was very little wind. It was
really humid today.
I've
been forgetting to mention that the days are getting short. Days are under 14
hours long now and the sun is setting around 8:50 PM. It's setting over the
end of Lighthouse Point, too, in camera range. Well, the only good things I
can say about this summer is that the days have been very long and mostly not
too hot. Now, if we could just get rid of that humidity and have a few more
clear nights,..
Grayson
mostly slept, of course, except that all last night, he kept coming in and
mewing at me, as if to say, "Aren't you going to bed yet?" He
was happier today, because things were more normal. He got a nice tummy rub
both days.
The
humidity isn't doing my joints any good at all. My hip hurts a bit the first
couple of steps I take after I get up, and then it's all right. Now, my
problem is my right shoulder. I screwed it up, I think, because whey my hip
was so sore, I was having to lean very heavily on either the walker or my cane
when I was walking. The joint hurts, but the real pain is the area under my
arm and over onto my chest, where the corrective surgery was done four years
ago. That is excruciating at times. Fortunately, none of this is bothering me
too much when I'm lying down, so that isn't the reason I'm not sleeping well.
so
that was a very quiet two days, and now we may get some rain, which would be
nice. If it's going to be this humid, it could at least rain. It's a cool,
cloudy, humid night in the field.
August
22
It's
too late and I've been reading; I'll write tomorrow.
August
21
i'm
doing this very early tonight, because It seems to be catching up to me. I
wasn't excessively late last night, but I did not have a good night. My feet
were like two blocks of ice and I kept having hot flashes and sore spots. It
wasn't until I finally got to the office that I discovered why - or probably
why - I forgot to take my evening pills. Again. It's one disadvantage of
eating only one meal a day. I usually don't take the "morning" pills
until after I eat, and then I have to remember to take the evening ones.
Sometimes I don't. I always regret it. I think I will sleep a whole lot better
tonight.
I
got my hair washed without sitting quite all day, but my joints hurt, because
the weather forecasts that said it was going to be quite dry today were very
wrong. Thanks, Environment Canada. I'm about ready to email Attilla and
complain. They've been really off this summer.
It
wasn't dry, but it was clear and blue and pretty. The high temperature was
only 68º and there was a north wind in the 10-15 mph range. The dew point was
steady around 59º, plus or minus a degree or so, wich put the humidity
between 75 and 80% - much too humid for me! So I hurt, although I am still
pretty ambulatory.
Grayson
slept, mostly, although he was asking for his dinner before I was quite
through in the bathroom. I think he knows today is Sunday, when he gets his
favorite flavor, and I seemed to be diddling around, even though I was much
earlier than usual. He wants that good stuff!
So
now it's a cool, clear night in the field and I AM going to bed!
August
20
Well,
did it again, and besides, I didn't get enough sleep.
The
weather was sort of nondescript. There was a deck of clouds, not very thick,
over the lake all day. The high temperature was 70º and there was mostly no
wind, except for a little bit from the east. The humidity was too high and it
wasn't very comfortable. I had a little more joint pain than yesterday, but
not a lot.
Grayson
mostly slept. He doesn't like this weather. He wanted my dinner, which he
didn't get, and he actually climbed onto my lap and got a good tummy
rub.
So
now I must try to get to bed a bit earlier, maybe. it's a cool, cloudy night
in the field.
August
19
Another
late night, although not quite as late as the one before, i think. I don't
remember. I do know I didn't get enough sleep.
Altogether,
though, I feel much better than I have in a week or two. I didn't have a
headache and I'm happy to say my joint pains are subsiding. There's a little
pain left in my hip, but not a lot and I can walk with just the cane. I've
found the Rollator so useful that I'm still using it, but I wouldn't have to.
Of course there is still some pain in my knees and my right shoulder and the
muscles (such as they are) in the right side of my chest hurt occasionally,
but I'm really doing much better. Ron stopped by with the mail and I was able
to stand and talk to him for a good fifteen minutes without any problems. It's
a real relief.
The
weather was yucky again. The temperature got up to 80º briefly, there
was no wind to speak of and the humidity was much too high. In fact, the fog
rolled in shortly after 5 PM and it was still thick when it got dark. Yuck.
Grayson
thought so, too, and he didn't even want to be petted much. Mostly he slept,
which is a good idea in weather like this.
So
that's it. It's a coolish, foggy, yucky night in the fielld
August
18
well,
late-late again. Sigh. I had a horrible night last night. I was sweating
almost all night, but the real problem was that my hips were so sore I
couldn't sleep. I don't know why - they feel better today - but last night not
only were the individual joints sore, I had a severe pain from one joint to
the other, across the front where i bend when I'm sitting up. I couldn't find
a comfortable way to lie. So when I finally did get to sleep, I just kept at
it. It seems better today, but I haven't laid down yet.
So
I ddin't do anything again.
The
weather was blah. It was sort of clear in the morning, but it clouded up aas
the day went along. It it didn't rain here, although apparently they had 3½ -
4" in thunderstorms down west of Marquette. The high temperature
was 75º, there was almost no wind, and it was very humid. Why my joints felt
better today, I do not know, but I haven't ever been able to figure out
exactly what causes them to get sore.
Grayson
got two cuddles and he wanted another one, but I was doing something else when
he asked. He is just a very clingy little kitty.
So
now it's very late and it's a warmish, very humid night in the field.
August
17
So
instead of going to bed at a more or less reasonable hour, somehow I managed
to invert. I should have gotten enough sleep, but I've felt tired and achy all
day and I wasn't hungry. Maybe tonight will be a little brtter.
The
weather wasn't as warm as they predicted, at least at this end of the harbor.
It was partly to mostly cloudy all day until just before it got dark when it
appears that it mostly cleared up. The high temperature was 73º and the wind
was very light and from all over. It was quite humid again, and my joints were
telling me so.
Grayson
got two cuddles and some yogurt, so he ought to be happy. He wanted up a third
time but I was doing something else.
And
that's it. It's a sort of cool, maybe clear night in the field. and I need to
put my head to bed before it explodes.
August
16
Well,
it appears that I got enough sleep.
I
knitted for quite a while and I have only about three rows left on the first
chart, so I'm progressing. There are some very difficult rows in this pattern
and I keep messing them up, but I'm getting better at it. I fooled around
some, but I finally got my hair washed, although it was hard. It was another
humid day and my hips are really bothering me.
Then
after I ate and petted a cat, on my way to the powder room, I had a messy
accident right in the middle of the great room floor. I don't know what it is
about taking a bath, but more often than not I have a problem afterwards. So I
stopped in the laundry room to leave my wash and pick up some clean underwear
and socks, changed clothes, brought in a package of paper towels from the
breezeway and cleaned up after myself. I need to do something about the big
splotch a bit further down that happened after dark one night, but that will
require a chair, a pail and possibly a mop. If I can continue to get enough
sleep so I feel good, maybe I can do that one of these days. Eight hours isn't
enough and I guess eleven hours is too much.
When
I did my surfing, I found the information for the bulletin, so I got that done
and sent out. My regular proofreader is out of town, so I hope the guys are up
to the task, but this one was easy - no special dates, no special
announcements - and I tried to check it carefully. I have some characteristic
errors that I tend to make very often - and a couple that I suspect are
defects in Word - and I tried to be especially careful about those. When i
create something like that, which a lot of people will see, I like it to be as
correct as possible.
The
weather warmed up today. The high temperature was 80º and while it was that
warm, the humidity was low - the dewpoint has been nearly steady in the middle
50s - but before and after mid-afternoon it was humid enough to bother my hips
and knees. It was clear and pretty in the morning, but after about 5 PM the
clouds began to move in and it was quite cloudy by dark. I guess we're in for
some rain over the next couple of days. Oh, ouch.
Grayson
slept wherever I was. And he asked to be cuddled, but he didn't stay long
because it was hot at the time he got on my lap and neither of us like to
cuddle when it's hot. Oh, and he told me when the FedEx guy came. I thought I
heard something, but he had to get up and go see what it was. Now there are
two boxes out in the breezeway that need to be opened and put away.
So
it was a more productive day than I've had in quite a while, which is a good
thing. Maybe I can string two together? I would really like to read, but not
only should I get to bed, the things I want to read haven't been written yet.
I'm still plotting them in my head, but I won't know how they really come out
until I write them and I haven't felt like writing - or anything else -
lately.
Now
it's a cool, cloudy and sort of breezy night in the field, and I think it's
blowing in some rain.
August
15
Huh.
Middle of August already. And I haven't done anything.
I
sure didn't do anything today. It has to be because my hips and knees, as well
as my shoulders, are so sore, but I've been having sinus headaches, too. All
that makes me not want to do anything at all.
So
I didn't. I didn't get enough sleep, either. I was middling-late getting to
bed, but I miss-read the clock and got up when I should have gone back to
sleep, so I was tired and achy.
I
did knit about 4 rows. This is a round shawl, so even though I'm only on row
46 or so, i already have 192 stitches, but that's only just enough for my
24" needle, so not only is it slow going, I have to push the stitches
around a lot. I had made the observation that the center is ugly, but that was
when I tried to make it with the purple yarn and now I suspect I'd made even
more mistakes than I have with the dusty lilac. It s a weird pattern and very
easy to screw up. I won't say the center is beautiful, but it's not that bad.
I
was supposed to have a Zoom call with the nephrologist on Wednesday, but right
after their automated system called to confirm it, they called to cancel and
now it won't be until September. I think the only appointment I've had with
that guy that was at the original time was the first one. When I'm glad most
of my medical services are with Aspirus.
The
weather started out cloudy, but it soon cleared up and the afternoon was very
pretty. The high temperature was 68º and three wasn't any wind. It's still
very humid, though, which no doubt is the reason I hurt so much.
Grayson
mostly slept, of course. He got even more excited than usual about his dinner,
and I don't know why. He thought he wanted some of mine, too, but he didn't
get any. It wasn't very good anyway.
So
that was another lost day and now it's a clear, cool night in the field.
August
14
Three
in a row. I was a lot earlier to bed and a lot earlier getting up, but it
didn't matter.
We
had a little power glitch, so I guess I'll be setting clocks. Since I was
sitting in the dark, all that happened that I saw was a "beep" from
the UPS and my little task light went out. But i turned it right back on and
it was fine, so I don't know what that was.
The
weather was cloudy and cool again. The high temperature was 71º and there was
no wind. It was very humid again, which not only contributed to my not wanting
to move, I have a sinus headache.
Grayson
slept, but he got his favorite food and he got to lick the yogurt dish, so he
was happy.
And
it's a cool, cloudy night in the field again.
August
13
Today
is mama's birthday, number 105.
It
was another late night and lost day. I did knit a bit.
The
weather was cool and cloudy. The high temperature was 66º,, briefly, and the
wind was light to calm and variable. There were a couple of rays of sunshine,
but not much.
Grayson
mostly slept, of course, although while I was washing my face, he was lying
just outside the bathroom door and he shouted at me. So I said, "Don't
shout at me!" and he didn't. He would like it if I could rotate my
schedule back three or four hours.
now
it's another cool, cloudy night in the field.
August
12
We
completely zoned out today, both of us.
The
weather started out mostly clear, although there were a few clouds in the
morning, but around 5:30 PM it clouded up. The high temperature was 76º and
there wasn't much wind. What was nice was that the dewpoint was quite low - at
or under 50º - so the humidity was low and my hips, especially, felt much
bttter. Unfortunately, we're probably in for some reain, so it won't last.
Haven't I told you that if there is something up in the sky that would be nce
to see, it will be cloudy?
Grayson
was getting upset by the time he finally got his dinner and he was shouting at
me, but he liked it and he got to lick my bowl of yogurt, which he loves.
And
that's all there was. It's a coolish, cloudy night in the field.
August
11
So
I was late again, but i slept better than I have for a while. Not that I did
anything with it. I filled the kibble bowls, and that was about it, but
I diddled around until it was quite late.
The
weather was pretty, but cool. The high temperature was 72º, briefly, and
there wasn't a lot of wind. It was mostly quite humid and my joints were
telling me so. It was clear and blue all day and now the full supermoon is
shining brightly in the south windows.
Of
course, that will wash out the meteors, but I've seen meteors - I think the
first time I saw the Perseids was when I was about 13 and all three of us sat
out on the deck behind my bedroom in the mosquitoes to see them. It was sort
of a ritual for all of my teens. I was always mostly a summer astronomer
anyway, although somehow i managed to learn the winter constellations. The
house was in the way of the southern sky from my deck, so there was a lot I
had a hard time seeing. I'm still more familiar with the northern sky than the
southern. And this moon is so bright it's washing out most everything I can
see from the bedroom, other than Vega. My summer star, Arcturus. is mostly
gone anyway.
Grayson
was getting antsy before I fed him, in part because his kibble bowls were just
about empty. He is happier now. He got to sit on my lap for a while, but not
very long today.
So
now it's late and I must try to go to bed tonight. It's a clear, cool, moonlit
night in the field.
August
10
I
don't remember why I was so late last night. I didn't sleep very well. I was
up several times, and after about 8 AM, mu left hip was so sore it made my
whole leg ache and I didn't sleep very well, although I didn't get up unti
almost 1 PM. Then I knitted a bit and fooled around a lot before I did
anything.
I
unloaded and realoaded the dryer, so now I have jeans and underwear again, as
well as some other things I threw into the loads.
It
was a bright clear day, but not too warm The temperature went down all day
from 78º at midnight to 59º a day later and for most of the day there was a
brisk north wind, with gusts up to 28 mph. For most of the day it was not very
humid, and my joints were thankful.
I
think my right hip is beginning to heal, but now I have this thing with my
left hip, and of course my knees... The first few steps after I stand up are
very difficult, but I've been able to get around a bit better. I;m still using
the Rollator, but that's at least in part because it's so convenient to put
stuff on the seat. Oh, and I had to bring my cart into the office to get the
cat hair and other junk out of the wheels and I haven't moved it back into the
kitchen yet. The Rollator is addictive, though, just because it's so
convenient. Only I don't want to get dependent on it.
Grayson
was upset with me because I was so late, and I'm going to have to fill his
kibble bowls soon. He will eat the whole bowl of canned food, but he doesn't
like to empty the kibble bowls. This is a trait of most cats I've known; they
leave a bit in the bottom of the bowl, maybe in the hope it will grow.
So
that was a rathe rtruncated day, and now it's a cool, clear night in the field
and the nearly-full supermoon is shining brightly in the south.
August
9
My
guess is that the wifi problems I've been having lately are the result of a
failing piece of equipment. The connection went down completely for a while
last night and I haven't been having any problems tonight, although I haven't
tested the actual speed; Either that or they upgraded something. It's a
relief. It was getting really bad.
I
was a bit later than I wanted to be last night, of course, but not too late. I
slept well and i felt some better today. For one thing, the humidity was much
lower and my aching knees and hips aren't nearly as sore as they have been.
They still hurt, but I can get around a bit better. The only thing is, I've
gotten into such bad habits since I hurt so bad.
I
didn't do a lot, but I washed a load of underwear and paid some bills.
The
weather was hot, or it felt that way to me. The high temperature was 83º, and
for most of the day there was very little wind. It was clear and blue and
after dark, the nearly-full moon was shining in the south windows. I finally
reset the start and stop times of the canera - by half an hour on each end. I
doubt very many people look back at the archive like I do, but at least there
will be fewer plain black screens. Sigh. IT's always sad when I have to do
that, although I'm hoping for a nice late summer and fall, not nearly as humid
as June and July were.
Grayson
doesn't like this weather any better than I do, and he mostly sleeps all
stretched out so he can get as much air as possible. There are disadvantages
to wearing a fur coat. At least I can sweat all over - and I did. He wanted my
dinner, of course, but no such luck.
So
that was my day and now it's a clear, warm night in the field. At least the
wind has picked up.
August
8
Well,
I'll write this, but it may not get posted until tomorrow. PastyNet is having
some sort of problem again.
I
was too late last night. It's another case of not wanting to get out of my
chair because it's too painful. IT's still very humid and my joints are
telling me so. Anyway, when I did get up, i had a really yucky accident, all
over the floors. I think I've sort of cleaned up the office, but there is a
big area in the great room that needs attention. At least I have my rolling
chair so I can sit while I work on it. I just have to have time.
I
got up at a sort of reasonable hour, which means I didn't have enough sleep,
and I just almost fell asleep in the powder room, so maybe I can crash
tonight. If the internet is down, I might as well. I did get my hair washed,
finally
The
weather started out cloudy, but it cleared up around noon and the afternoon
was very pretty. The high temperature was 67º and there was a light north
wind. The humidity, though, varied from 97% to 80%. Yuck.
Grayson
didn't like it either, I think. He was complaining by the time I finally got
dressed, but he didn't try to geth my dinner. He does things like walking
around under the Rollator and rubbing his whiskers on my cane that annoy me.
So
that was my day, such as it was. At least I'm socially acceptable agak.
when
I looked out the south window, the big gibbous moon is shining brightly in the
south. It's a clear, cool night in the field.
August
7
This
is getting monotonous to write about, although it doesn't seem monotonous to
live. It was another lost day. I was ridiculously late getting to bed, so I
got up ridiculously late and did nothing. Well - I put the load of bottoms in
the dryer. Whee1
THe
weather turned cool. The high temperature was only 62º and there was very
little wind. it was slightly less humid, but that's not saying much. It was
cloudy until around 1 PM, cleared up nicely until around 6 PM, then clouded up
again. I got a glimpse of the gibbous moon behinc the clouds before it was
completely covered.
Grayson
mostly slept, of course, although he was getting a bit antsy by the time I fed
him. After I ate, he came and mewed and got a nice tummy rub. He is probably
asleep in the doorway now.
And
that's all. It's a cool, cloudy night in the field and i tmight rain a bit.
August
6
Bah!
Another lost day. I did finish washing the load of bottoms and I'll put them
in the dryer on my way north, but otherwise, nothing. Bah.
The
weather was meh again. The high temperature was 81º, fairly early. It was
(and is) very humid and there was some wind that settled down from the north.
It was cloudy and dull all day. Meh, but not good for my joints.
Grayson
mostly did his thing. When he mewed at me after I got up, I just petted him,
but this evening he came up beside me and mewed so I picked him up and we had
a nice love in. He never stays too long, and I don't know why, but it's nice
to have a lapful of purring fur every so often.
Now
it's a warmish, humid, cloudy night in the field.
August
5
Another
lost day. I was rather late last night because I had the usual accident. I
slept fairly well, but I was really tired by the time I got to bed. The way
I've felt today, I didn't get enough sleep, sp I'm doing this early and hoping
to make up for it tonight. The only thing I did today was start the load of
bottoms washing. I'll finish it tomorrow.
The
weather wasn't too bad, actually. The high temperature was 81º and there was
a nice southwest wind, with gusts as high as 33 mph. It's dying down now, of
course. There was a lot of sunshine but there were clouds and after about 5:30
PM, it clouded up completely.
Grayson
had me a bit worried. He usually follows me around, but last night, he never
came up to the north end, and he still wasn't there when I woke up around
10:30. So I put on my shoes and my glasses to go after him when he came
running down the hallway meowing. I don't know where he was, but he acted like
he forgot. So I picked him up and we had a good cuddle before i went back to
bed. I think he would like to cuddle more, but I have other things to
do...like sleep.
So
that was my day and now I think I'll read for a bit longer - hopefully not too
long - before I go to bed. It's a warm, cloudy nignt in the field.
August
4
Very
sorry that the journal for last night didn't get uploaded, but PastyNet had a
failure and I couldn't get to my website. I did write one, and it's below.
I
was late getting to bed because I had an icky accident on my way north and I
had to clean myself up and relax my mind. those things always upset me. I did
sleep, though, with only one wakeup, and I didn't feel so bad, although I
didn't do anything with it. The trouble is, my hips are still very bad, the
right one particularly, and when I'm sitting down I just don't want to get up.
That's undoubtedly why the accident and it's why I didn't do anything today. I
have a load of bottoms in the wahser that needs to be washed, and I'll do that
tomorrow, but that's all.
The
weather was nice again, and quite a bit cooler than yesterday, which was also
nice. the high temperature was 69º and there wasn't much wind, although it's
still very humid. It was clear and b;ie a;; day. Nice.
Grayson
was a bit complainy before he got his dinner and he wanted some of mine, too,
but he didn't get any. Just a little while ago he came in and spoke and I
picked him up and we had a nice love-in. He also wished me good morning when I
got up, which I thought was nice of him.
So
that's another lost day, and now it's a coolish, clear night in the field.
August
3
This
weather is not conducive to my sleeping well. I was so tired when I finally
went to bed that I fell asleep on my back, which doesn't happen very often.
While lying on my back for a while relaxes the muscles, sleeping on it for
several hours stiffens it up. And besides, the reason I woke up was that I was
about to have an accident. I was out of bed when I did, but it was messy
anyway. I think I got up around 11 AM and it was getting warm when I did.
The
information for the bulletin came in yesterday and I finally got that put
together tonight, without too many mistakes.
I
had asked Ron to help me finally get the last of the groceries into the house,
and he did that, as well as varoius other things that had come in the
meantime. I was so grateful. After he left, I got everything put away in the
fridge, although I haven't put away the dolly and the tub yet.
I
am having so much trouble walking that I am mostly using either the Rollator
or the transfer chair. I wish I didn't have to use the Rollator, but if I
don't, it takes me forever to move. Both hips are bad, although in different
spots, and my knees are acting up again. It's the weather I'm sure.
The
high temperature was 84º, but that happened early in the afternoon and it
went down rapidly into the 60s. The dewpoint was around 60º, plus or
minus a few degrees, and the humidity actually got below 60% for a little
while, but mostly it's too cool and humid for my joints.
Grayson
was mouthy today, and I don't know why. When Ron was bringing in the stuff,
Grayson made one rush for the door, but Ron caught him and he didn't try
again. He did get a couple of lap sits and he finally quieted down. He wanted
some of my dinner, but he didn't get any.
I
actually did feel some better today, which I guess means my potassium is still
going up. That's nice; I was really dragging last week. Now if I can just get
the right mix of food to keep my potassium normal and my kidneys happy, I can
go on. I doubt it will happen, because it seems to change on almost a daily
basis.
When
I turned out the light last night, a bright light hit me in the eye and when I
looked out, the lighthouse is apparently in operation again! I assume it's
been off for so long because they were waiting for parts. The current light is
just on the top of a steel structure, so it's a simple thing, but it's old and
when something breaks, they have a hard time getting the parts for it.
Oh,
by the way, this may not get posted tonight. PastyNet had a major failure, and
I haven't been able to get to my website all evening. I'll try again tomorrow.
Now
it's a cool, clear, breezy night in the field.
August
2
I
was up sever3l times during the night and I got up around 10 AM, so I didn't
get enough sleep. That should have been early enough for me to leave at a
reasoable time, but I am having so much trouble moving that once I'm sitting
down, I just don't want to get up.
Anyway,
I did make it to the hospital by 3 PM, but they were busy and I left around 4
PM. By the time I got home, the results were online. My potassium is still a
little low, but not much, my kidney function is a tad less good than it was
Friday and my uric acid is a tad higher than I'd like (but I think that's
because all the flank steak I ate over the weekend). So I guess it was
worthwhile. They're going to have a fight if they want me to keep flying down
the peninsula every couple of days, though. Both I and my car are too old for
that.
I
hurt so bad that I still didn't get the rest of the groceries into the house,
but Ron called because he finally picked up the message Debbie left for him,
and I put him on to help me get everything into the house that needs to be
here. We had a nice conversation, although his phone is VoiP and it kept
cutting out.
The
weather started out nice, clear and blue, but still humid. By the time I left
the hospital, it was clouding up and between 8 and 10 PM we had a little
thundershower - 0;11" of rain. It looks like that may be the end of our
rain event, but we'll see. The high temperature here was 74º, with a nice
southwest wind that eventually got up to 37 mph gusts. It was warmer in town,
but that breeze made it tolerable. It's really humid now, and yes, I can tell
the difference between 50% and 90% humidity. Walk or don't walk.
Grayson
knew I was going away and he went and hid someplace, although he was very
happy when I got home. He wanted my dinner, of course, but he figured out that
he wasn't getting any before I finished it. I hope he doesn't think I do these
things becaue I'm mad at him, but it's hard to tell.
I
did not feel very good when I got up and I am really tired now, so i may not
stay up to hear the whole Rachmaninoff, but we'll see.
It's
a cool, breezy and possibly rainy night in the field.
August
1
Of
course I was much later than I wanted to be last night, but I was cooling off
and I was just too tired to get up. My hips were so sore I ended up getting
out the Rollater, and it helps a lot, although it rolls so esily I have to be
careful to stay close to the handles.
Anyway,
it was after 1 PM before I got up and I felt all right then, except for my
hips. The doctor called again and, as I suspected, the call was about my
potassium, so I have to go down to Laurium tomorrow and get another blood
test. Sigh. I had a lot of high-potassium food today, so maybe it will be
better. I hate to have to drive down there, but it is some concern. This
hapens occasionally, but the new guy hasn't seen it before. And I admit,
I don't feel all that good.
The
weather was mostly cloudy and cool, but it didn't rain here. THe high
temperature was 67º and there is a brisk north wind in the 15-20 mph range.
Howeer, it is still much too humid - around 80%, so it's icky. IT cleared up
after dark and the camera caught a nice picture of the moon setting over the
mountain.
Grayson
was very talkative today, and I don't know why, except that i was late and he
wanted his canned food. He did get a nice lap sit, so I guess he knows I've
forgiven him. And he didn't try to get out when I had to go out to the
breezeway. He didn't get any of my Harbor Haus dinner, but we had yogurt for
dessert and he might like that even more than I do. The dish looks like I
washed it.
So
that was my quiet day and now it's a cool, breezy night in the field.