After nearly a week of dire forecasts last night the Great Blizzard finally struck. The forecast started with the storm coming noon Wednesday and a total accumulation of 4 to 8 inches on the valley floor -- then it was due Wednesday afternoon and 2 to 7 inches -- then Wednesday evening and 2 to 5 inches. It finally snowed early this morning (Thursday) with a total of 2 inches of snow -- and it stayed warm and sunny enough today that the roads cleared by themselves with no freezing (hurrah).
I had already canceled a doctor's appointment (still a reasonably good idea since I would have had to drive over the West Hills and that would have been a hassle this morning) -- the appointment wasn't critical (it concerns continuing adjustment to my heart meds) so delaying it a week didn't matter.
And concerning the heart meds: I went to get refills today for the first time this year (starting a new insurance deductable season) and was stunned with sticker-shock (over $100 for one of the three). I guess I should be proud that in today's economy I'm helping drug companies maintain their critical bottom line.
dw drove to work this morning and when she called to announce her safe arrival, she said the drive was quicker than normal -- due to the light traffic (people staying home because of the snow) -- And for snow belt readers, you need to understand that Portland drivers don't get snow. They either drive as if the pavement is dry -- turning their cars into giant pin-balls bouncing off other cars and buildings (actually that's fun to watch -- as long as you're uninvolved) -- Or they drive as if the snow on distant mountains is going to leap onto the pavement in front of them, sending them into a death skid that will only stop when they crash into the river and drown. Snow brings untold terrors to Portlanders.
As snow storms go this was a pretty good one. It started early so we woke up to a winter wonderland, and then it was melted by 11 a.m. DA
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Valentine's Day
Usually not a big ticket manufactured event at chez DA@dw. And it wasn't this year. dw worked yesterday, so the festivities were limited to her gift to me of a selection of small bags of flavored chips and a few other samples of junk food-type stuff. It was great and I quickly inhaled it all. I got dw some flowers and four pieces of nice chocolate. (cards from both to both). Today we went out to dinner at a neighborhood fish restaurant (The Fishwife). We both got fish & chips and a beer. Nothing fancy about the place but the food was moderately priced and good, if not worth driving any distance for. We got a card from Laurie L. which was a pleasant surprise
As a new feature (I'm getting a little desperate): I've just started reading "The Letters of the Younger Pliny" which I'm hoping will be as entertaining as Tacitus. And I just finished reading "The Golden Ratio" -- "the story of phi, the world's most astonishing number" If I continue with this feature I suspect I'll only note the
a-list books. The "well, isn't that special" sort of book. DA
Yeah, yeah, yeah, high brow reading. I don't even know who Tacitus is!. I'm reading 'Blacklist' by Sarah Paretsky - a stunning achievement from one of the most compelling writers in American crime. It says so right there on the back cover so it must be true. Beats the ACLS manual (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) which I renew certification of on Thursday and have been spending every day since NOT studying or preparing. Procrastination is my new mantra - maybe I should try reading Young Pliny. It's got to be better than reading how to do rescue breathing? Dinner was fried fish and fried chips and creamy tartar sauce and cole slaw. Delish. Chocolates for dessert. Have a great day. dw
As a new feature (I'm getting a little desperate): I've just started reading "The Letters of the Younger Pliny" which I'm hoping will be as entertaining as Tacitus. And I just finished reading "The Golden Ratio" -- "the story of phi, the world's most astonishing number" If I continue with this feature I suspect I'll only note the
a-list books. The "well, isn't that special" sort of book. DA
Yeah, yeah, yeah, high brow reading. I don't even know who Tacitus is!. I'm reading 'Blacklist' by Sarah Paretsky - a stunning achievement from one of the most compelling writers in American crime. It says so right there on the back cover so it must be true. Beats the ACLS manual (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) which I renew certification of on Thursday and have been spending every day since NOT studying or preparing. Procrastination is my new mantra - maybe I should try reading Young Pliny. It's got to be better than reading how to do rescue breathing? Dinner was fried fish and fried chips and creamy tartar sauce and cole slaw. Delish. Chocolates for dessert. Have a great day. dw
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Nothing Changes
Next week perhaps I'll create an adventure, since we're not having any real ones. The high-light of my week was losing a crown. Fortunately I didn't swallow it so no unpleasant adventures were required to save it. Went to the dentist and had it glued back on. We took the books into Powells to sell -- I got about half of what I had hoped for. Oh well. The day after we were selling the books I read in the paper that Powells was laying off 31 employees so perhaps I was lucky to get what I did.
I'm continuing my gym sessions. Went in today and got spanked on a climb I should have done easily. Not a stellar day, although the bike ride there and back was pleasant: Nice weather (just a little cool) and light traffic.
dw was turned down for a job she had applied for. The job wasn't a particularly good fit (because of scheduled hours and location) but the rejection is still upsetting. It all could be a lot worse, but still ...DA
Yeah, the job market is not good. Why am I even looking? Because I have not been getting enough hours at my current per diem job. Hearing that Powells laid off 31 employees makes me question the rhetoric that the economy is improving, if slowly. Well not in Wessel World and it's frustrating. On a more cheerful note (and because I cannot remember if it was in a previous blog) I will brag about my quick escape from the Blizzard of 2011. I was in Madison when Part I of a two part blizzard struck 22 states in the middle of the country. My return to Portland was scheduled for Wed - smack dab in the middle of Part II which mentioned 22 inches of additional snow so I called Delta and found an early flight - that Tuesday afternoon. Fortunately my traveling light habit allowed me plenty of time to get ready and hop on board and get back to Portland via Minneapolis without any problems. My flight was the only one leaving that Tuesday - all others were cancelled so I lucked out. That was a good thnig or I could still be there...
My only regret is not being in Wis. when the Packers won the Super Bowl. I think I could hear the cheers from here (not including my own, of course). Good times. dw
I'm continuing my gym sessions. Went in today and got spanked on a climb I should have done easily. Not a stellar day, although the bike ride there and back was pleasant: Nice weather (just a little cool) and light traffic.
dw was turned down for a job she had applied for. The job wasn't a particularly good fit (because of scheduled hours and location) but the rejection is still upsetting. It all could be a lot worse, but still ...DA
Yeah, the job market is not good. Why am I even looking? Because I have not been getting enough hours at my current per diem job. Hearing that Powells laid off 31 employees makes me question the rhetoric that the economy is improving, if slowly. Well not in Wessel World and it's frustrating. On a more cheerful note (and because I cannot remember if it was in a previous blog) I will brag about my quick escape from the Blizzard of 2011. I was in Madison when Part I of a two part blizzard struck 22 states in the middle of the country. My return to Portland was scheduled for Wed - smack dab in the middle of Part II which mentioned 22 inches of additional snow so I called Delta and found an early flight - that Tuesday afternoon. Fortunately my traveling light habit allowed me plenty of time to get ready and hop on board and get back to Portland via Minneapolis without any problems. My flight was the only one leaving that Tuesday - all others were cancelled so I lucked out. That was a good thnig or I could still be there...
My only regret is not being in Wis. when the Packers won the Super Bowl. I think I could hear the cheers from here (not including my own, of course). Good times. dw
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Home Again
Amid huzzahs and hurrahs, balloons and fireworks illuminating the pellucid evening sky, dw returned on Tuesday (a day early). She got an earlier flight because of the great winter Storm of the Century -- which does seem to be quite a storm. Otherwise absolutely nothing of interest has happened. We walked yesterday, making a point to pass and gawk at the oak damaged house. I went to the gym a couple of times which isn't any more interesting than usual. And so it goes. DA
Yes, I have arrived safely back in the land of green grass, sun, 40 degree and a rare blooming daffodil. True, we saw two blooming daffodils yesterday when we were walking. Had to be in the world's most unique microclimate because there is nothing blooming anywhere else. It's all good. Checked in with Steve to see if I really missed Stormageddon and I did. Twelve plus inches of snow fell in the 24 hours since I left Madison at 3pm on Tues. Amazing. Hope everyone is safe and warm back there and enjoying the snow days. dw
Yes, I have arrived safely back in the land of green grass, sun, 40 degree and a rare blooming daffodil. True, we saw two blooming daffodils yesterday when we were walking. Had to be in the world's most unique microclimate because there is nothing blooming anywhere else. It's all good. Checked in with Steve to see if I really missed Stormageddon and I did. Twelve plus inches of snow fell in the 24 hours since I left Madison at 3pm on Tues. Amazing. Hope everyone is safe and warm back there and enjoying the snow days. dw
Friday, January 28, 2011
Tree Stages Violent Protest?
After the clear stress test of last week, I've stopped taking the metoprolol (on Dr.'s suggestion) and my breathing as well as the occasional heart thumping and banging seems to have improved. Now instead of feeling like I'm trying to exercise at 15,000 ft, it feels like I'm trying to exercise at fat and unfit. A definite improvement.
On my walk on Wednesday I passed a two story house that had a tree fall on it. A BIG TREE. (in protest of the t-rex trunk dismemberment?) It was an Oregon white oak (as was the t-rex tree) more than four feet in diameter. In addition to the ruined roof, the NW and NE corners were visibly out of plumb. I talked to a neighbor who said the owner (who was unhurt, although home) had heard nails popping loose from the dry-wall and the wood work. None of the doors in the house work properly, they either don't or barely open and close in the part of the house farthest from the tree damage, and in the rooms next to the impact area -- the doors are immoveable. It's probable that the house is totally destroyed. It might be possible to twist it back into shape, but I doubt it. After tree people had used chain saws to cut what they could the company involved brought in a heavy-duty mobile crane to lift the tree trunk.
I didn't see the rating on the crane, but from it's size I'd guess it was rated to lift 50 tons. It was not a small operation.
In other news, there isn't much. dw is still in Wisconsin. I'm messing about at home. The sculpture and painting are going OK, but I'm not having any epochal breakthroughs. I have decided to sell some of my books. I've sorted out about 250 that I'll get rid of. I'm not selling any that have particular value, mostly because I don't feel like doing the research to make sure I'm not ripped off. As I was hanging the old crutches, I thought -- there's too much crap in this room -- even for me. So some of the books are going. DA
On my walk on Wednesday I passed a two story house that had a tree fall on it. A BIG TREE. (in protest of the t-rex trunk dismemberment?) It was an Oregon white oak (as was the t-rex tree) more than four feet in diameter. In addition to the ruined roof, the NW and NE corners were visibly out of plumb. I talked to a neighbor who said the owner (who was unhurt, although home) had heard nails popping loose from the dry-wall and the wood work. None of the doors in the house work properly, they either don't or barely open and close in the part of the house farthest from the tree damage, and in the rooms next to the impact area -- the doors are immoveable. It's probable that the house is totally destroyed. It might be possible to twist it back into shape, but I doubt it. After tree people had used chain saws to cut what they could the company involved brought in a heavy-duty mobile crane to lift the tree trunk.
I didn't see the rating on the crane, but from it's size I'd guess it was rated to lift 50 tons. It was not a small operation.
In other news, there isn't much. dw is still in Wisconsin. I'm messing about at home. The sculpture and painting are going OK, but I'm not having any epochal breakthroughs. I have decided to sell some of my books. I've sorted out about 250 that I'll get rid of. I'm not selling any that have particular value, mostly because I don't feel like doing the research to make sure I'm not ripped off. As I was hanging the old crutches, I thought -- there's too much crap in this room -- even for me. So some of the books are going. DA
Thursday, January 20, 2011
On The Road of Life
I got the results from the stress test. It came back normal, which is good, but that doesn't explain the odd thumps, bangs and other oddities my heart occasionally comes up with. Ah, well. Another one of life's mysteries. Apparently it is unlikely to stop anytime soon and I can do whatever I want (exercise wise) -- so it's all good, or at least good enough.
I walked again today. One of my routes includes a path down to the river (which I'll go down and up 2 or 3 times) -- the only place around here with a hill. For 25 years or so, at the bottom of the hill, a dead oak has arched over the trail. At some point it had toppled, and was perched on two limbs and the trunk with the stump looming over the trail. It sort of looked like a T-rex with the head (stump end) 10 feet above the path. It was also quietly rotting away and due to collapse and perhaps smash someone into a puree. Well someone (probably the city -- a real trail is planned for the site) got busy with a chainsaw and now the T-rex is a stack of wood alas.
I also have to note a tragic passing: my canadian crutches. About two-thirds of the way into the walk, the right crutch developed some sort of twist which makes it uncomfortable to use. Time for a new pair, which is too bad. The old ones have been so stalwart: up several mountains, hiking in the arctic etc. I'll retire the old ones to a place of honor in the Curiosity Room (a.k.a. the computer room) .
On another note, there are two curious ships being worked on at the Swan Island shipyard. The "Pacific Discoverer" and the "Pacific Tracker" both from Norfolk Va. The P.D. is festooned with radio / radar dishes -- four 20 in diameter and two 15 feet, as well as six radar domes -- three to ten feet in diameter. The larger P.T. has a couple of dishes and six similar radar domes and -- here's the odd part -- a geodesic radar dome 40+ feet in diameter perched on the stern. The ship must be a real peach to handle in a typhoon. My captaining experience is limited to a 25' sail boat -- on the river -- with a fresh breeze (Beaufort scale) so what do I know, but still.
(Francis Beaufort of the eponymous wind scale -- the sea north of Alaska is named after him -- he was knighted -- he slept with his sister. The four things may not be related.) DA
I walked again today. One of my routes includes a path down to the river (which I'll go down and up 2 or 3 times) -- the only place around here with a hill. For 25 years or so, at the bottom of the hill, a dead oak has arched over the trail. At some point it had toppled, and was perched on two limbs and the trunk with the stump looming over the trail. It sort of looked like a T-rex with the head (stump end) 10 feet above the path. It was also quietly rotting away and due to collapse and perhaps smash someone into a puree. Well someone (probably the city -- a real trail is planned for the site) got busy with a chainsaw and now the T-rex is a stack of wood alas.
I also have to note a tragic passing: my canadian crutches. About two-thirds of the way into the walk, the right crutch developed some sort of twist which makes it uncomfortable to use. Time for a new pair, which is too bad. The old ones have been so stalwart: up several mountains, hiking in the arctic etc. I'll retire the old ones to a place of honor in the Curiosity Room (a.k.a. the computer room) .
On another note, there are two curious ships being worked on at the Swan Island shipyard. The "Pacific Discoverer" and the "Pacific Tracker" both from Norfolk Va. The P.D. is festooned with radio / radar dishes -- four 20 in diameter and two 15 feet, as well as six radar domes -- three to ten feet in diameter. The larger P.T. has a couple of dishes and six similar radar domes and -- here's the odd part -- a geodesic radar dome 40+ feet in diameter perched on the stern. The ship must be a real peach to handle in a typhoon. My captaining experience is limited to a 25' sail boat -- on the river -- with a fresh breeze (Beaufort scale) so what do I know, but still.
(Francis Beaufort of the eponymous wind scale -- the sea north of Alaska is named after him -- he was knighted -- he slept with his sister. The four things may not be related.) DA
Sunday, January 16, 2011
More Active Than Normal
I had the nuclear perfusion / stress test this week. I haven't gotten the results yet, but unlike the first test no one seemed to be alarmed. No "Quick, go lay down before you have a heart attack that we'll have to deal with!", or warnings about limiting my activity to washing dishes. (As If, that's not my job. I cook and shop)
During the test, they inject some sort of radio-active stuff. Take some pics -- do a tread-mill test -- inject more radio-active stuff -- take more pics. Once again I forgot to take a whiz in the dark, hoping for some glow-in-the-dark action. That would nearly make it all worth while.
I also fixed my bike wheel. It went smoothly -- only taking 45 minutes and the result seems to be fine. Probably not Tour d' France fine, but I'm not Tour d' France fine either. Good reasons to keep the couch weighted down are fading away.
I finished another painting -- maybe. I haven't decided about it. It might need more work but I'm not sure exactly what. I'm trying to do some abstract paintings -- something I've not done much of -- and the results can be mixed.
And finally, I talked with my college friend Jim C. -- The one who had some sort of brain event resulting in some memory loss, and continuing short term memory problems. He sounds great (he's a pro voice-over / actor guy so he should sound great) but he clearly has problems -- although he's back living in his own apartment. (For a couple of months he was staying with a friend) -- As Betty Davis (?) said: "Aging isn't for cowards" -- Although I feel like I'm 30 or so. Looking in a mirror is always a surprise -- And pictures -- "Oh my god -- Who is that old fart?" DA
Yeah, yeah, I figured the stress test would be fine - I think it's the meds causing continued problems but it's not my heart so who am I to say. Promised Steve a mention in the blog. We spoke on the telephone today and he admitted not reading the blog figuring (and probably rightly so) that the main action has come and gone as the blog is called "D and D on the Road" and we are not. I reminded him of our innate wit over lifes' daily amusements but I don't think he was convinced. Lacking a witticism I will end... dw
Wait, wait, I just thought of a witticism! We may not be on the asphalt road but aren't we "On The Road of Life"? Ewwww, too cute, eh? Just a thought. dw
During the test, they inject some sort of radio-active stuff. Take some pics -- do a tread-mill test -- inject more radio-active stuff -- take more pics. Once again I forgot to take a whiz in the dark, hoping for some glow-in-the-dark action. That would nearly make it all worth while.
I also fixed my bike wheel. It went smoothly -- only taking 45 minutes and the result seems to be fine. Probably not Tour d' France fine, but I'm not Tour d' France fine either. Good reasons to keep the couch weighted down are fading away.
I finished another painting -- maybe. I haven't decided about it. It might need more work but I'm not sure exactly what. I'm trying to do some abstract paintings -- something I've not done much of -- and the results can be mixed.
And finally, I talked with my college friend Jim C. -- The one who had some sort of brain event resulting in some memory loss, and continuing short term memory problems. He sounds great (he's a pro voice-over / actor guy so he should sound great) but he clearly has problems -- although he's back living in his own apartment. (For a couple of months he was staying with a friend) -- As Betty Davis (?) said: "Aging isn't for cowards" -- Although I feel like I'm 30 or so. Looking in a mirror is always a surprise -- And pictures -- "Oh my god -- Who is that old fart?" DA
Yeah, yeah, I figured the stress test would be fine - I think it's the meds causing continued problems but it's not my heart so who am I to say. Promised Steve a mention in the blog. We spoke on the telephone today and he admitted not reading the blog figuring (and probably rightly so) that the main action has come and gone as the blog is called "D and D on the Road" and we are not. I reminded him of our innate wit over lifes' daily amusements but I don't think he was convinced. Lacking a witticism I will end... dw
Wait, wait, I just thought of a witticism! We may not be on the asphalt road but aren't we "On The Road of Life"? Ewwww, too cute, eh? Just a thought. dw
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)