Saturday January 5 2008

Last night during the night a blizzard set in. I don't know how hard the wind blew, just that it was blowing the snow horizontal when I let the dogs out about 3 a.m. They didn't waste any time out there. Its very hard to know how much snow falls when such wind is going on. Now the drifts are piled up more, perhaps a few might be as much as 1 to 4 feet. And the sagebrush is covered up more now. But at 3:30 or so the sun is shining from the west. Things are much more optimistic with a little sunshine. It is quite a bit warmer than it has been in the past weeks. I saw about 28 degrees this afternoon. The forecast is still for snow the next several days, but it sounds better than it did earlier.

The concern again is getting to Jackson on Monday. Its on my mind to call Frosty and make sure he will come to plow the road sometime tomorrow, and he will have to get clear in to the garage door or I can't get the car out.

Today the Wyoming Highway Department is doing avalanche control in the Hoback Canyon, so I would hope that they do an extra good job clearing out the road after that is accomplished. The options are to get a motel reservation for Sunday and Monday night, and then cancel them if we don't need it. And either leave Sunday afternoon to stay overnight and be there Monday morning. Or get up very early and be out of here in the dark of night before 6 a.m. to give some leeway time for poor road traveling. Spring can't come soon enough.

This has been a day that I've gotten several phone visits, which has been nice. Also I've puttered with housecleaning and mopped the kitchen and utility room floor for the first time. Then put on my coat and boots and took out several bags of garbage through the snow. That felt o.k. - a good way to get moving. Joe washed and changed the sheets. Its about time for him to bring in firewood and feed the cats. Their little door hole keeps getting drifted in, but Joe clears it and they are still getting in and out. I'm ready to pay the bills online that have come lately and that will be taken care of. It seems like it is taking longer every time for them to receive payments through the mail, and then they are late.

Here is a link where you can look up a picture of Bear Bread, which Gina sent to me. http://www.odyssei.com/travel-tips/16940.html

Wednesday Thursday Friday January 2, 3, 4 2008

Top Edis Sings to Us

Bottom, Lynn and Edis

We took pictures of Nancy too, but didn't find them on my photo card.

Was disappointed about that.

Nancy and Edis arrived about 4:30 on the first and left at maybe 9 a.m. this morning - Friday. Nancy flew from Port Angeles WA to Bozeman the night before and was able to see Edis perform with her band that night. After having some dinner they went to a Lutheran church and walked around a labyrinth, Nancy told me what that experience was like and I'd like to try it. I had been walking with the dogs and they drove in as I got back to the house. They made good time driving down from Bozeman, about 8 hours with an hour stop for lunch in Jackson. Edis got her car parked in the shop. I had made a grilled salmon dinner and it was just time to eat.

There was so much we did that I can't unsnarl on which day each thing happened so I'll just do a report of their whole visit. I'm not going to begin to even to remember it all, so will just hit the highlights that come to mind.

Background is that both of them worked for me at Big Sandy Lodge and we have kept in touch since. They are very special people to me and I wish you could also know them.

Nancy is one of my favorite people and lives at Seiku with her husband Roy. They are both teachers, which doesn't even begin to let you know about their experiences and professional accomplishments. Nancy has a PhD in teaching related to computers and has been active in alternative schooling. For about 25 years they have operated a charter fishing and hunting business on the rivers and forests of the Olympic Penninsula and live on the shore of the Straights of Juan de Fuca. If you followed the emails, photos and blog you know I visited them there about 2002 and Nancy has also been back here from time to time.

I admire Edis so much mostly for having the vision and determination to do just about anything that she has wanted to. She is also a teacher and is at the University of Montana in Bozeman. She is a professional musician, writing a lot of her own songs and music. She has also followed a major interest of doing outdoor things. She met her husband George when both of them were working in Yellowstone. George is a back country horseback ranger in the summers in Yellowstone Park. In 2004 when my family and I went to Glacier we visited Edis and George at their home.

They had a load of stuff from the car, and said there were reasons for all of it. Kind of mysterious. The fun thing which highlighted the days is that they brought gifts and surprises and spread them out throughout the whole time they were here, even to this morning. Everything they brought was consumable in one way or another so they honored my wish not to be given any more things. This had to have taken a lot of thought ahead of time. The first thing was toilet paper and we all laughed about that. Of course the whole time was filled with non-stop visiting and catching up on many years when we had not seen each other. Joe also enjoyed seeing them.They came with the agreement that they would do the cooking and give lots of help while they were here, and they certainly did that. They shopped for groceries on the way and brought baked things for us to enjoy. Actually Edis' husband George baked and sent several kinds of goodies that were delicious, so he was also a part of our days. For lunch the second day we had some yummy vegetable soup George had made. He made us cookies, homemade applesauce and banana bread. Nancy brought truffles and biscotti, cedar boughs from the northwest woods for fragrance, three perfect sand dollars from her beach, pretty notepads and list pads, and lavendar body mist that is grown and made in a nearby town, which were brought out at intervals too.

While they were here they bundled up and took several walks, which the dogs loved of course. We had nice sunny but cold days. Shortly after lunch Wednesday Edis drove into Pinedale to see her friend Kay who owns the Stockman where Edis used to work. Kay so very generously sent us back meals times four, prime rib, pork roast, vegetables, shrimp cocktail etc. Meals were easy with all the food we had. We are still eating that. While Edis was gone Nancy got a few kinks out of my laptop, but was unable to unkink a few more. That was certainly a help. We visited a lot, and I dozed off for a nap. That night Nancy and I stayed up until almost midnight talking.

Thursday we barely got through breakfast when the power went off. It came on a time or two. I unusually neglected getting us some good drinking water into pitchers ahead which I always make a point of doing. We didn't know the outage was going to last all day long. 3700 customers were affected, actually all of Sublette County and it was a very cold day. (Read about that at http://www.pinedaleonline.com/#power - start at the bottom of the article, newest is on top.) Joe brought in buckets of water hand pumped from the well for flushing the toilet, washing up and such, and we had the wood stove going as usual for keeping warm. Meals were easy and we did o.k. with getting something prepared. It was a mistake not to start the wood cook stove in the kitchen, but we also did fine without it. If we had, we could have had a nicer hot dinner.

Edis gave the dogs a badly needed brushing. I hadn't been up to brushing them since I'd gotten sick. There was a whole garbage basket full of Sparky hair. During the afternoon Edis took one of my hands and Nancy the other and did a wonderful relaxing hand forearm massage with aromatherapy oil. Then later we had the most special treat of Edis playing her guitar and singing for all of us. It was a special time, with lots of memories included. She just gets better and better.

When evening came we broke out the candles and the few battery powered lights I have in order to get the dinner together. It was dinner by candlelight. And after that was cleared away we played scrabble by candlelight. The lights came back on about 7:30 after several fits and starts. That evening Edis came out of her room with a bubble machine for soaking feet, and they each worked on a foot with all kinds of products, exfoliating, moisturizing and massaging. By then I just sort of melted into the chair. Such special thoughtful gifts and caring. We had tea and more visiting before bedtime then everyone turned in. Each time I woke in the night, my feet felt so wonderful.

Friday morning the plan was that they would wash the sheets and remake the beds, although I said it would be good for me to have something to do. It was soon all done and everything cleaned up. Joe went in to the Pinedale Clinic this morning and his blood test was better this time. He doesn't have to go back for a month. He had lunch in town.

Their car started right up, and everything was loaded in again and off they went. Nancy called about 5:30 and they'd made it back to Bozeman in very good time. She will fly home to Washington tomorrow morning.

As for how I've felt since my chemo treatment, ...... not good. Those high falutin' nausea pills really made me super constipated which didn't get better until today. I'm still having stomach pain from that. It made me pretty mad to go through days of that when I've continued to tell "them" this is such an issue, and especially not to be feeling as good as I might when we have company. The hospital has called to say my surgery to insert the port in my chest is scheduled for Monday and I have to be there at 9:30.

There may be a pretty big storm coming in, to be seen whether it does reach us. But it is predicted to have high wind and dump a bunch of snow here in the next several days.

January 1 2008

Torchlight Parade at White Pine Ski Area

Lifted out of the Pinedale paper.

As I first write 2008, I think of all the checks and forms to remember to get the right date on.

So this morning will write about our trip to Jackson yesterday. It's another long one. If you don't want all the details like some do, just skim.

Remember Gina and I had decided we should cancel the trip because of the storm we had, figuring the roads wouldn't be very good for traveling.

Didn't sleep well the night before and then was awake at 6 a.m. but laid back down and really zonked out until 9. I opened my eyes and saw the sunlight streaming in and went "BOING". Had to call Oncology and ask if I could come in another day. They are closed New Years Day of course, so Wednesday was the first possibility and I would miss having my checkup with the Huntsman doctor. Nurse Carol nearly insisted that I come to keep the doctor appointment, and they could do the chemo after. She said Wednesday was too busy to include me anyway. I said we'd be there in about 3 hours, then called Gina and she was still able to go along with me. I said I'll be there in an hour.

It was so sunny and beautiful here that Joe kept saying "You're missing a good day". In fact, even after the storm yesterday he was saying I'd still be able to drive out. I dressed warm, washed up and took my yogurt and hot tea with me. Joe had taken the chains back off the car and got it out for me. Then drove ahead of me out the lane to break the snowdrifts. The snowplows hadn't cleared the county (dirt) road yet, but it was quite good and other vehicles had been through the drifts so I did just fine. After the horrid storm we had I was surprised the roads were as good as they were. (The drift in the corral is about to my hips.)

Picked up Gina about 10 and we were on our way. I asked her for a bottle of water because mine I keep in the car was frozen (who woulda thunk?) and I needed to keep hydrating so my veins would be good. Had been drinking all night

The highways were sometimes dry to good on up to the Rim where they began to be snowpacked, but weren't as slick and icy as last time. Going along next to the river it was snowing lightly and pretty misty so the visibility was an issue there, but everyone was going more slowly and being careful. I also had smeary glasses, probably dog kisses, that needed to be cleaned and had to keep shifting my head to get a seeable angle through them.

Was kind of up in the air about the sudden shift in the plans, so seemed to be having small feelings of being nervous/anxious/stressed/distracted. It seemed I couldn't relax and enjoy the scenery as much as last time, although so much of it was spectacularly beautiful. I especially love when the hills disappear back into the mists, like a watercolor painting. The river had more solid ice on it than the last time. Starting down into Jackson the roads were clear.

The drive with Gina was so enjoyable and she kept me entertained with stories from her past, and history of the area. She was raised on a remote mountain ranch that got very snowed in in the winters. When she was born her mom's water broke 2 months early, and so she the birth was unexpected. They had to take her mom as far as Cora with a team hooked to the front bobs of the hay rack sled, since it wasn't all put together yet, getting down there in the middle of the night. Then had to get the vehicle warm enough to start, they built a fire under it (under the engine- that was common then - why they didn't catch on fire or blow up I don't know), and pulled it with the team til it started. They got to Jackson and the hospital about 7 and she was born at 7:30 a.m. Can you imagine? There's lots more to the whole story, and lots more adventures. I hope we get to read the book soon.

We arrived at the hospital a little before noon. It wasn't nearly as busy as the last times and when I got into my chair I was the only one, a couple of others had just finished. We saw people we know from Pinedale again. I am always so grateful that one thing I can be thankful for is I'm not near as sick as most of the other people who are there. We all need to pray for ones who are ill that way.

My visit with Dr. Buys from the Huntsman went fine. She really seems knowledgable, which I expected. Everyone from there is on the cutting edge of all the info and research. My bloodwork this time came back improved again, with the liver enzymes down. They took blood for the tumor markers and that will be back in a few days.

Next they started my chemo drip and Gina went over to KMart to get my new more powerful anti nausea pill prescription filled. That was good - and thank you Gina - because it saved us some time on the way home. When she came back and told me it was for 5 pills and cost $250 I was speechless. The insurance part D paid for all but $22. I will boycott those next time even if the insurance pays it. (I just don't believe that price can/should be possible) ...and after these are gone will just keep taking the cheap ones I already have since the nausea wasn't that bad - esp. if I would take the blankety blank pills like they tell me to. That's another thing that gets procrastinated.

We ordered grilled ortega turkey sandwiches on sourdough from the hospital restaurant menu which was good and ate lunch while I got my treatment. I also had a cup of beef barley soup that was very good. Carol gave me a flyer about a support group that is starting on Wednesday Jan. 9 afternoons in Pinedale. I think I should try to go to that, even if just for a reason to start getting out of the house more than only going to chemo. We were finished about 3 p.m. and started on home.

Joe gave me specific orders to call him when we left Jackson and again when we left Pinedale, but from the time we left the hospital all I got was a busy signal. I have to tell you, although trying to assure myself everything was o.k. at home, I was a little worried. You know how you can envision all kinds of terrible things. Gina offered to drive me home in case something had happened to Joe today, but they had a nice evening planned and I told her then I'd have to drive her back home. And besides, just like he's always done all these years that he never called home, I'd just tell him, "No news is good news". Since they had got the new phone equipment in I don't know why its having a problem - but when I got here the phone was dead. Told Gina if anything was wrong I'd call 911. But if I'd had to, I don't know how I'd have called 911.

We got to Gina's about 4:30. She had told me about a thing called Bear Bread that they had gotten on their trip to Alaska. I wish you could see it because describing it isn't easy. If you think of a fungus growing on the tree, which Gina said it's not, that would be a place to start. There are small and large ones. She showed me both sizes. The shape generally is a thick "L" shape. The side that faces down is pure white and flat. The rest of it is about tree colored. She had one about 18" across and she said when they got it from the forest it weighed about 80 pounds and when it dried out, I lifted it with one hand, it weighs maybe under 10 pounds. She is painting pictures on the white side and gave me a small one she had done, it's a landscape with mountains and a river. I am just enthralled by the whole idea of it, and that she made it and gave it to me. It is sitting on a special spot in the bookcase where I can see it easy.

Gina and Charm and their husbands went to the torchlight ski parade tonight and then had dinner up at White Pine. Charm and Jim skied and Gina and Bob will watch. Charm said the wind was blowing hard and it was cold skiing.

Got home fine, saw only a few deer and they were not in the road, just close. Got here about 5:40 - glad to see still a twilight in the west instead of darkness. They had plowed the co. road and it was quite nice. Our Richie Road was better than it was this morning with a little traffic having gone in since I went out. Joe said Norm and Jep had come over to visit, kind of surprised him while he was vacuuming. When I got here everything was fine and Joe didn't know the phone was not working, just said it never rang all day. And that was fine with him. Of course it would have to be on a holiday again. Fixed us some scrambled eggs for dinner so that was easy and good.

With the way the day all came about, I ended up just a little more stressed by the time I got home, starting with leaving late, etc etc. But sat quietly for a while, read the email and felt better. Later I worked some on my photos to get them ready for catching up onto the blog. Was tired. In a while I realized that this is the same symptoms I've had each time as night comes on. The same headache, dry nose and eyes and pain in the neck. Took my first $50 pill!!! I ought to feel really great for the next couple of days. Anyway better!!!!

Could not get to sleep, until finally by 1 a.m. felt like laying down and dozed until about 3. Then got a snack, watched several programs on TV, made tea, up and down getting my bean bag hot repeatedly in the microwave to put on my neck, etc, etc. Finally after Joe got up, I could sleep and it was 10 a.m. when I woke up. I did not get the bad shoulder pain.

As I sat awake I had several very good positive thoughts and insights. First was what I'd already told Gina on the way home, that I was ready to start getting back out and socializing more. And perhaps that should be my No. 1 New Year's Resolution. I have really managed to cut off seeing and visiting with people, but the quiet and recuperating has been good. So I must be feeling better. I believe riding with Gina and talking with her - and the time being right - gave me insights about the point I'm at in the illness. Everything I hear that someone else is doing that is fun, I wish I could be there or do that. Beverly said they had family night with her wonderful potato salad and chicken fingers and I wished I could have been there. I wished I could have gone to the torchlight parade. I'm thinking about wanting to do things again - travel, or go to lunch and meetings with friends. If I could pick one thing strive for I'd like to take that train trip across Canada that we've talked about and go up into the parks - Jasper and Banff. Just be a tourist. Or something like that to look forward to. Maybe by spring I'll be well enough to do that, though that is an unknown. I also feel like getting back to writing the book. That is part of what I've been doing by organizing the files.

Edis and Nancy are traveling here from Bozeman today and will be here tonight for a visit. Edis is bringing her guitar. They will leave on Friday. I'll let you know more about their stay the next few days, but Joe and I are looking forward to seeing them very much.

Well this was a good thing to do today, just sit and write.

Thank you all my special friends. I cherish your friendship and support more than you know. You don't know how much that means to me. The best ever New Year to you all. What ever it brings 2008 has to be better than last year was for us. Much love and hugs.

Monday December 31 2007

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Wish I had some fireworks to put on this page, but I don't know how. Just imagine!

Gina and I went to Jackson to my Chemo Treatment after all, and all went well. So I'll catch up on the blog with the details in the morning.

Fun good photos of the tuttle comet and comments by the people who took them from all over the world. I forgot to look last night myself so seeing the pictures was nice. Click:
http://spaceweather.com/comets/gallery_tuttle_page4.htm

Sunday December 30 2007

Temple Peak

Wow, New Year's Eve tomorrow. Another year done and gone. When I look back now it has sped by, especially the last three months of being ill, thought it would be slow and it seems like its been the blink of an eye since that first doctor visit in October. It's all been on the fast track. Its two months now since the surgery. Seems things are going just as they said on the recovery and feel a little better in that respect every day.

Gina and I have conferred this morning and decided not to try to go to Jackson for my chemo in the morning. We have close to eight inches of new snow here plus what was on the ground. And the wind is blowing a ground blizzard. The sun comes out and then it all doesn't look so bad, but we know the roads up through the Hoback will not be nice, let alone the fact that the snow plows surely won't be out our way by 7 a.m. And this wind will really pile up some drifts now. (Remember Big Kahuna?) So now the plan is to shoot for going up to the hospital on Wednesday morning. The only important thing about tomorrow is that I had an appointment with Dr. Buys from the Huntsman Cancer Clinic (she comes once or twice a month) and I will ask my nurse if we couldn't have our appointment tomorrow on the phone instead - if she needs to talk to me personally. Or maybe my charts will be enough for her. It's just not worth sitting and worrying about. And the nurses have always told me if the weather is bad we can do the treatment a day or two later.

One glitch is that Edis and Nancy are supposed to arrive Tuesday night from Bozeman, so it may be them that take me to Jackson instead of Gina. Plans do go astray sometimes.

Joe's got lots of football so he's occupied with that. I've been reading through old correspondence files, specifically transcribed Edis' letters into the computer this morning. I glean information from all these old papers that will give me dates and events for "The Book". I get all that saved into the computer and it sure helps my memory a lot. Then when Edis visits I can give her her old letters back. I've been returning their letters as I record info from other people's correspondence. It's a good chore while being snowbound. I got the big Judi file all finished last night and another large bag of discarded pages for the trash.

Getting up late and leisurely sure does away with morning. Its lunchtime before I know it and never accomplishing much. I always sleep best early in the mornings so the rest is a good thing right now.

Saturday December 29 2007

My Violet is blooming again.

Another quiet and uneventful day, so not much to write about. Weather was indeed warmer, maybe up to 15 for a high but only 5 below or so at night. It was mostly cloudy and snow coming and going all day. It may have amounted to a fluffy 5 inches of new snow so far. Supposed to be a 90% chance of more snow tomorrow. It was lovely to look out and watch the passing weather on the landscape. Already I can notice that the days are getting longer and I'm always grateful for that. It will soon give us a little more daylight as we come back from Jackson. It doesn't mean winter is over with though.

I've been putting the dog's coats on when they go out lately. Raven especially loves wearing her coat. Then Sparky has to have his on too. No more alarms after dark when they go out.

Joe fixed the kitchen faucet today. He watched a lot of football. Hmmmmm, what else?? I felt better today, maybe one of my best days and it seemed like I just wanted to relax and enjoy it, so that's what I spent the day doing. Did some reading.

Friends Edis and Nancy, who worked for me at Big Sandy, have been planning to come in January to see us. They will travel together. They both called me today, so I'm looking forward to seeing them soon. They are two of my most favorite people.

Space Weather News for Dec. 29, 2007http://spaceweather.com/After a 13.6 year absence, Comet 8P/Tuttle is once again traveling through the inner solar system. On Jan. 1 and 2, 2008, it makes its closest approach to Earth--only 24 million miles away. The emerald-colored comet will brighten to a predicted magnitude of 5.8, visible to the unaided eye from dark-sky sites and a fine target for backyard telescopes anywhere.Two nights before closest approach, on Dec. 30th and 31st, something extraordinary will happen: Comet 8P/Tuttle has a beautiful close encounter with spiral galaxy M33.

Friday December 28 2007

Rattlesnake Dick's on the New Fork,

an old place down near Boulder

Zane sent this one taken when he came up

for a snowmachine trip over in Idaho

It was very cold again last night. The dogs have their dinner just after we eat and then right out the door to potty. Well they immediately began to bark and wouldn't go off the porch. After several minutes of that and seeing they were worried about SOMETHING that definitely was "out there" I brought them in. In another couple of hours I figured they must be about to pop, so let them out again. Same thing, frantic barking and back in without going anywhere. After I finished catching up the 4 missed days of blogging and ready to go "night night" they still hadn't been out. I checked the thermometer and it was 33 below zero. I bundled up and went out with them and we quickly got potty time over with and they zipped right back in and never asked to go out again all night.

Joe had to go to town today for his blood test so left pretty early. I said "BRRRRR". He took our garbage barrels to the dump, got parts for the kitchen faucet which has been dripping and I don't know what else. He stayed in town for lunch. Joanne and Tom sent us a loaf of pumpkin bread! That was very thoughtful, and thank you guys.

I made some Little Bear shortbread cookies - had the dough already made and frozen ahead. About 1:30 or so Jonita and Madelaine got here - Joe had just gotten back a short while before. And I was surprised that Mary Lynn came along with them. Jonita brought a beautiful and unusual bouquet of flowers, Mad brought lotion, using a lot of that lately and much appreciated, and Mary Lynn brought us some of the most wonderful scones she had baked. I had to taste them right away and pronounced them delicious. (And BTW Joe insisted he have one warmed up for dinner. I said I didn't care, he could have that if he wanted it.) We had the nicest visit with coffee/tea and cookies. Sure enjoyed seeing the friends and appreciate them driving out.

So after they left I hurried to find a vase to put the flowers in. They made a beautiful arrangement and in among the flowers I found a tag that said they apparently came from the Amazon! There are pineapple looking flowers I don't even know the name of one peach colored that looks like sculptured satin ribbon, and 4 red ones and some birds of paradise. some orchids(?) and other different looking things. The greenery is also very foreign looking, unrecognizable. I have them in the studio where I can see them nearly all the time. Thank you Jonita. They are truly unique, and you were right about the white ones setting the whole thing off. I enjoyed arranging them as well.

After checking the upcoming days' weather report, it looks like we aren't going to have such cold weather. It says "not as cold" so I hope this cold spell is over. As compared to last night at this time, its about 5 below, so that's an improvement already. Tomorrow doesn't look so bad, chance of snow, but the next three days look like we might get some snowfall that will amount to something. We'll just have to wait and see.