1/29/12:
The Skagit River winds down from the mountains, past Concrete, past Sedro-Woolley, past Burlington, winding back of the ball fields and on under the freeway, going west and making a big, big loop before heading east and past Mount Vernon, on its way to Puget Sound.
We live by the bend where the river turns, stops heading west and goes back east. The river has one big, long pile of stones and dirt built up along both sides— the dikes. Part of the dike system is across the road, seen out our north windows.
The dikes are high, but we can see parts of the Anacortes water treatment facilities too. They are located inside the loop, on a peninsula of land that is mostly used for agriculture. Anacortes is located on Fidalgo Island, easily accessible across a high bridge with an absolutely great view of the valley when heading east. All of Fidalgo Island is part of Skagit County. Anacortes gets its water from the river, with its plants across the river from us and large water lines that go all the way from here to there, about 17 miles.
They tore up the field behind us a couple of years ago, using it as their staging grounds and equipment storage for replacing the water lines from here to there. Last spring and summer we could hear the pound, pound, pounding of piles from a distance. We thought that was over, but during the last week the pounding has re-started. 8am Saturday too. Wow, how much are they doing over there? Aren't they done yet? Are they pounding their pilings all the way to China?
We went into town yesterday to run errands, with Cindy driving. Errands done, it's time to head over and drive around the peninsula of land the river winds around and see what's up.
We got to the end of the peninsula where the river turns and, yep, there it was, the big pounder and the BIG PROJECT.
You can click on the photo above to see the full version that Jay took and you can click on those words underlined just above to see the IMCO construction company's page about the BIG PROJECT.
That's about enough excitement for now, my heart is beating fast... later, ciao.
And the days are not full enough
And the days are not full enough
And the nights are not full enough
And life slips by like a field mouse
Not shaking the grass
— Ezra Pound
1/28/12:
Click comic to see the rest of the 1-30-12 New Yorker's comics— this was my favorite...
1/21/12:
This is the weather report from a couple of days ago— when it gets really cold here Jay likes to check to see if we are colder than Hell (Michigan). As it turns out we are at times colder than Hell...
My work started with a two hour delay yesterday due to continued treacherous driving, today it is in the mid-40s and the snow is gone. The week's excitement has dissipated here for now, although they are still getting power turned back on south of us.
A week or so ago I was surprised to find a UPS package for me when I got home. Now it is not all that unusual for me to get packages, to say the least. This time I was not expecting one, especially one addressed to me at work. Our main hub in Seattle has a couple times sent me printing simply addressed to our internal routing number "123" Mount Vernon. The other times it has been difficult to get the item, but this time the right driver must have looked at the package, saying "I know that name!" So, I can get a UPS package delivered to me with just my name and city/state— my one minute of fame...
If you would like to see a cartoon about getting old that my cousin Diane sent along, click on the weather report. Ciao.
To get something done, a committee should consist of no more than three men, two of whom are absent.— Robert Copeland
1/19/12:
Well, let's see— what did I do today? I did make some leek and potato soup that was yummy. The picture to the left is of the leeks in the sink, waiting to fulfill their mission in life after I had plucked them from the earth.
If you click on the leeks you can see where they came from in our back yard— yes, our snow-covered raised garden beds. It turns out we did have more snow, which you probably know about either firsthand or from the news.
In my last entry I said I wouldn't mind staying home due to snow and my wish came true! I did go to work Tuesday, but not yesterday or today— which I enjoyed.
Today I ventured into the snow to harvest leeks, and to take some photos. The one at the top of this entry is a view over our back fence that shows the rise of the dike dirt at the river's bend and over that you can glimpse some of the low hills and their snow. The reddish twig coming up at the bottom right is from our grapes. If you click on the picture you can see our grape arbor in the snow.
We had a few inches but south of us got a real mess, we fared fine. The photo to the right is our raspberries in the snow next to the back fence. If you click on them you can see a photo of my footprints as I ventured out the back door— pretty darn exciting!
It is supposed to now warm up into the 40s tomorrow, and rain. Looks like work is in store for the last day of the week, and then the weekend! Oh boy!
I love slow days at home to work on my projects, which today included making potato soup and coleslaw. What more can one ask for? Ciao.
A man seldom thinks with more earnestness of anything than he does of his dinner.— Samuel Johnson
1/16/12:
Brrr...
It has stayed cold enough that a lot of the little bit of snow we got is still around. It is supposed to snow tonight and tomorrow, so it remains to be seen if we will be paralyzed by 4 inches or not. I wouldn't mind staying home another day...
Today Washington Energy Services came and installed our new back door. 
They pulled off the old one, leaving it a bit chilly around here for a couple of hours. The new door and jamb are great! Pictures later...
Saturday Jay and I went to Deception Pass Park to take in the scenic beauty and white caps. The picture to the left of some wild rose bush branches and rose hips links to a nice scenic picture Jay took from the edge of a small cove we walked to.
Jay also took the picture here to the right of The Maiden of Deception Pass wood carving in one area of the park. It links to me on the beach, holding my wool hood against the wind— yet another Maiden of Deception Pass for the day!
Ah, so much enjoyed today off!
It is interesting how quickly days at home pass, sometimes getting a lot done, other times getting rest done :) Ciao.
He wrapped himself in quotations- as a beggar would enfold himself in the purple of Emperors.— Rudyard Kipling
1/15/12:
Yikes!
I have continued being busy selling on eBay and seeing doctors. The good news is, no doctors this week! Yeah! I am finally sleeping at night and getting REM sleep, along with fascinatingly weird dreams that have been stored up and waiting to explode into my brain. At least I think that is how it works.
Yesterday was cold and windy with some sun, so we headed over to Deception Pass State Park and enjoyed the rolling white-capped waves coming in. We walked the beaches, enjoying the dramatic cliffs and wonderful trees. Brr. All at once we had enough and drove around the park to view the rest with the heater going. It was fun!
We woke up this morning to the first snow of the winter, about 2 or 3 inches. It is nice to wake on the weekend with snow hanging on the trees and bushes like a Christmas card, all quite and peaceful. A hummingbird stocked up at the feeder as we ate breakfast. Jay took photos but was most interested in the ones I took of him, sending them to me first— I put them together for this animation and a bigger version when you click on the one here. He loves his morning coffee and his Wind In The Willows cup...
Tomorrow we are having our back door replaced— I'll post some pictures. Later, ciao.
All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy.— Spike Milligan
1/9/12:
I mentioned last month that I was cleaning out my closets, selling stuff on eBay. My estate sale has consumed me, taking up a lot of time and taking attention away from Jay. On the bright, very bright side, it costs a lot less than shopping on eBay!
Jay and I have different ideas about the timing of putting things away. I like to keep things I am using or will be using in the near future out, not only for ease of use but to remind me to do things! On the other hand, Jay likes to put things away all the time, regardless of whether or not they can be found again. We are like two peas in a pod... no, not peas. We are more like a teeter totter, working on our balance.
If you would like to see my desk in the midst of my capitalist frenzy, click on the sign you are not supposed to read.
Enjoy your own desks this week, ciao.
I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose.— Woody Allen
1/7/12:
Hola! Welcome to 2012...
I have had a slow start to getting my pages set up this year. I thought I had the home page 2012 design done last night, but it still needed tweaking today. Every year I re-design my home page and set up a new monthly page for the year, with updated pictures at the bottom and a new quote linking to the waving guy up to the right. I do have a word of WARNING— the top left picture of Kira and I (lord, is that a happy mom or what?) links to adult content, BEWARE. Despite the nudity, it is a picture even grade schoolers could laugh at...
So, what the heck are these Cindy pictures about? Well, I have had increasing problems with severe heartburn and since my good friend Craig died from esophageal cancer after years of heartburn, I thought I'd have my innards checked out.
I took the day off from work a week ago Thursday to have a carefree day of no breakfast, swallowing topical anesthetic, and having my insides examined and photographed from my mouth all the way to where my stomach meets my small intestine. What more fun can one have? Jay came along for the ride, taking wonderful care of me— along with post-procedure pictures
As you can see, I was a bit out of it, ending up with an attempt at smiling...
Yesterday I got the results of the biopsies they took: normal. Yeah! So no cancer, but I do have both gastris and esophagitis. Apparently the gastris is related to my B12 processing disorder and clearly can lead to cancer. The esophagitis I think is more common and related to the usual GERD stuff. I see the specialist for my follow-up visit next week, right now I am on a double dose of Prilosec in the morning and a double dose of ranitidine (another heart burn med) at bed time. Basically I am taking 4 daily doses of GERD medicine each day. How long that will continue I do not know yet, but I am guessing one or both of these meds will be in my repertoire for years to come.
If you are interested, the photos to the left link to pics of my stomach and esophagus, which are redder and striated more than they are supposed to be.
It seems like my time has been consumed with medical testing and doctor visits, now trying to figure out the side effects of the new medication for my legs moving while I sleep. I thanked Jay for the good care he took of me when I had my endoscopy, he said it was just rehearsal for times to come...
The winter is hard so far, with a good friend losing her mother last month and another enduring the week with a son in ICU. I am hoping for calmer seasons for everyone for a while...
Here's to a good year, defined as one will. Ciao.
An now let us welcome the New year, full of things that have never been.— Rainer Maria Rilke
Jardot's World: January Edition, 2012
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