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Hi everyone! I'm just checking in after the storm. Everything is fine here. Hurricane Ian, devastating to some in south FL, just about missed us entirely. Gusty winds is all we have experienced and still will today and tomorrow. We are blessed that no rain is predicted. I have seen posts from most that I know farther south, and looks like those people are all ok with little or no damage. Praying for those in the path that have received major damage and those not checked in yet.

We are in the process of having kitchen renovations done in our house. We will get new cabinets, countertops, and appliances. It's a lengthy process getting estimates, ordering stuff, waiting for stuff ordered and waiting for contractors to get started, but it will be nice when finished. So far we have a new refrigerator!

Cleaned up a lot in my garden pre-storm, so will have less to do for winter prep. Still have a lot of butterflies visiting the fall-blooming flowers.

We've had some cooler temperatures, so have been kayaking with friends a few times on nearby lakes and the Suwannee River. I have a camping trip to Seminole State Park in southern Georgia with two friends in mid October. The friends do not have RVs, so we have been getting together and renting a cabin twice a year, usually at a FL State Park. Sometimes our group is larger, 5 or 6 of us who like to hike and kayak. However, as we age, fewer people are able or feeling up to those activities. So this time only 3 of us.

I have been reading the forum to keep up with everybody, and praying for those who are ill or having difficulties. I don't usually have much to post about, so that's about it.
Liz

Thanks Liz. It is such a helpless feeling on hearing about devastating storms where loved ones live and not being able to do a thing to help. Always glad of an update.
My little 4 month old GGS came through his hernia repair with flying colors. Going home today, hopefully his parents can get some decent rest now.
Lyn

Thanks Liz for checking in! Glad you are ok. Hoping we hear from the rest of those in Florida and path of storm, soon.
All quiet here in my part of Northern California. Somewhat cooler temps in 80's are mch nicer than the 110-116 we has just two weeks ago! Son got his new glasses Tuesday and saw chiropractor Wednesday and today will get haircut at 3! I'm just a glorified chauffer!
Havea good day everyone!
Velda

Good afternoon Liz, Lyn, Velda & others!

Liz, I'm so happy to hear that Hurricane Ian spared you and I from what could have been a really, bad storm. Lyn, I'm happy to hear that your GGS surgery went so well. Velda, traffic here is still little to none to allow workers to repair damage from the storm.

Considering that 24 hours before Ian made landfall, Webster would have gotten a direct hit on its way to Ocala, but he made landfall
further south than originally anticipated. Then turned in a northeast direction and went to the east coast where my sister lives in Daytona. She said there is lots of flooding in her area and she has no power. She lost her husband to cancer less than two years ago and is still very fragile and I feel so badly for her. We plan to put our outside belongings back in place that we secured for the storm as well as our plants in containers.

Drove from Pacific Beach SP to Fort Worden SP on Puget Sound in the eastern portion of the Olympic Peninsula. (This is an old fort where they filmed An Officer and a Gentleman ages ago!) I stopped along the way and got groceries, plus got my new, updated COVID booster. So far arm is not achy, but I expect it will hit in the middle of the night.

Really cold here, got hooked up minimally with water and electric, but skipped sewer until it gets a bit warmer tomorrow. Am certainly going to need my heater tonight!! I did find out there is a small laundromat here, which I really need because my laundry is piling up. I have to change to a different spot on Sunday, so will drive over to the laundry then. Tomorrow, I am also going to call a couple of RV service places in this area and get new fans for my vent in the bathroom and the one in the kitchen. The one in the kitchen has been broken for a long time, but the bathroom one finally bit the dust also, so going to try to find replacements for both.

Other projects for tomorrow include trying to find out why one of my kitchen drawers will not close!!

I didn't do much yesterday but watch the hurricane. Liz and Irmi, I'm so glad the storm missed you. Today I went to Walmart to get groceries for the campout. I forgot to turn the refrigerator on so couldn't load the food. I will have to go again when I head out because I forgot to get worms. I'm not sure how much fishing we will do. It's not easy to get to the water at the state park.

The cool weather is so nice. The low last night was 58 and the high today was 80. It was sunny but very windy. I wanted to burn some trash but had to wait until almost dark for the wind to die down. The mosquitoes have been very bad. I would think that since it cool and so dry there wouldn't be many mosquitoes. The spray truck finally passed tonight so hope that helps. I will probably have to run the heat at night.

Martha

it's been raining today off and on a few minutes ago it was really loud... now not so much. but we will take what we can get... according to the phone weather app it's suppose to rain off and on during the weekend... just hope that it's rain not snow on the pass that I need to go over... I don't like to drive in snow especially on mountain passes... oh well
went to the pulmonary test today they couldn't do one of the test not sure if it was the machine or what as it said I was stopping to soon and the tech as well as myself knew I wasn't ... tried it three times
so have to go back next week and have that portion redone... it's to show if their is scar tissues ect
she gave me a nebulizer treatment then a test again said that it was the same results as before that the medicine hadn't helped...it makes me wonder if it's worth taking it...
so tomorrow going to travel to my brothers for the weekend then if the trip goes well will go on to South Dakota and get my drivers license then back to pick up mom and return to Jackson and Friday will redo the test... or at least that portion of the test...
I was convinced that my debit card was expiring at the end of the month knowing that it was Oct and somehow convinced myself that it was this month... knew this month was Sept even wrote down 9 several times go to the bank and make a fool of myself oh well we will blame that on the low oxygen level at times... I don't know how we get things into our minds
Liz and Irmi so glad you are all ok hopefully we will hear about others that might be in the area...
you all take care
sheila

Sheila, thank you for all of your posts. I always enjoy reading about all of your adventures and projects.

I am happy that you enjoyed your cruise!

I may have missed something, although I do try to read all of the posts. . . are you now on oxygen? Is this a temporary or a permanent thing? Not my business, of course, I only ask because you may have posted the reason for the need for oxygen and I must have missed it. Of course, no need to reply, just a friendly question.

It must be very stressful for you. I can't imagine being in ill health yourself and having the responsibility of caring for your Mom 24/7. I hope that you can find some kind of help, or that your family will be able to pitch in a bit more.

My heart goes out to you. I don't know how you manage all of it, I know I couldn't.

You take care. You are in my prayers.

Anne

Anne
they aren't sure what is causing the low oxygen... so on "2" all the time or if I register 87 or above I can be off of it it does happen but for a few minutes I try to remember and test it often... I am hoping it's just a temporary thing while I was a sea level no problems I'm actually hoping that they will suggest that I relocate for a longer period of time to lower altitude see if my lungs will improve but we will see
thank you for asking
sheila

Sheila, a good excuse for you to go to Q for the winter!

snowball wrote:Anne
they aren't sure what is causing the low oxygen... so on "2" all the time or if I register 87 or above I can be off of it it does happen but for a few minutes I try to remember and test it often... I am hoping it's just a temporary thing while I was a sea level no problems I'm actually hoping that they will suggest that I relocate for a longer period of time to lower altitude see if my lungs will improve but we will see
thank you for asking
sheila

Thank you, Sheila.

How very scary this must be for you. The desert (like in Q) is often said to help with lung problems. My grandfather relocated from Kansas City, Missouri to the desert - Mesa, Arizona - when in his (I think) 60's, for lung problems.

It seemed to help quite a bit, and he lived the rest of his life in Mesa and came to love it there - although it was so very different from the verdant midwest.

I send you my best wishes. Good luck!

Anne

Anne, yes, that used to be the advice-move to the desert for your lungs/allergies/asthma. That advice has changed because so many people moved there, taking their planting habits with them, so the former lack of pollen changed. Also their haboob, dust storms create havoc with lungs. Irrigation has changed humidity levels, plus what is in the air. The one truly valid really good thing for Sheila to go to Q is the lower elevation! Should help her get more oxygen in.
A number of people I know, who relocated to the southwest, we're better for a year or two, then developed allergy to what is there!
Velda

My doctor in Arizona is the one who told me Arizona is terrible for asthma. Suggested south Texas and, yep, it was better there. So I'll go to south Texas again this year. But I'm still planning on my casita in Arizona long term. Time will tell. Sheila, I do think you'll be better at a lower elevation. I hope you can get to Q this winter and test it out.

Q is out in the middle of nowhere in the desert, so probably not nearly as bad as places like Phoenix and populated areas.

Sheila - I have COPD and altitude definitely plays a part. I live in a desert-type area and most of the time my body has adapted to the pollens here, but there have been times when my sinus and bronchitis troubles hit me, especially in winter. Due to my shortness of breath all the time, my heart doc implanted a pacemaker for the AFIB. Didn't seem to help the breathlessness, but a month or so ago my lung doc ordered a new inhaler for me to take first thing every morning. I'm no longer gasping for breath because I think my bronchial tubes are opened now. I would put good money on the fact that higher altitude is making you worse. Sometimes doctors hesitate to be clear about suggesting a patient relocate.

My father died of lung disease and his specialist, who was very outspoken, said if you could move to the ocean it would be best for breathing. Who can afford that? So, my Dad lived in this desert like area also. Living on an island just isn't an option for most of us!

These past two years with all of us wearing masks I haven't even had a cold and NO bronchitis attacks. I think now that mask requirements have lifted, we will all probably catch everything going down the pike.

So sorry you have to wrestle with this decision.

Evie