Author Topic: Captain's Log - 2024  (Read 13386 times)

lighter

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Re: Captain's Log - 2024
« Reply #75 on: July 07, 2024, 03:01:02 PM »
Ugh....the heat at the lake house has been treacherous!  Sent the 26yo helper home with a headache then noticed I was overheated later while scrubbing back porch.  I'm glad you don't have to go into the heat, Amber. 

::Sending B continued patience, strength and healing::.


sKePTiKal

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Re: Captain's Log - 2024
« Reply #76 on: July 10, 2024, 08:53:33 AM »
Wondering this morning if there are any practical considerations to trying to clean house naked? Yes, it's THAT hot - when you can't take enough clothes off. Even inside, even with the AC crankin'.

All the plants are suffering from lack of rain. Yes, we've watered. But it's not the same. MIGHT get some rain this aternoon/evening.

Round 2 of studio work will be commencing end of this week, weekend. Baseboard & window trim; my roman shades are in transit from Guangzhou, of course. Probably a slow boat... but it will help to have those west windows covered, with the AC in the studio. It's $10k to replace the AC unit.

B takes off this morning; he's spent a couple days OCD'ing all his stuff & packing. Probably won't be back till end of August, Sept 1.

Hol & C are spending an awful lot of time together at the Hut - altho the studio has had a couple wild nights too. He's been working most of the days and she's been off doing her stuff. So, they're getting comfy with the arrangement.

My new glasses should be in this week.
Success is never final, failure is never fatal.

lighter

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Re: Captain's Log - 2024
« Reply #77 on: July 10, 2024, 12:23:25 PM »
Hopefully C's presence means S is out of the picture.

Drink icy beverages and get naked if it helps, Amber.

Lighter

Hopalong

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Re: Captain's Log - 2024
« Reply #78 on: July 10, 2024, 01:07:01 PM »
Weird memory from writing health books:

I was surprised to learn something that applies to iced beverages, too. The example was about warm baths before sleep EVEN IN HEAT. A research doc explained:

What happens is that the bath raises your core (most important) temperature, and when you get out your body goes to work to lower it again. So you are cooler for hours after a hot bath even when it's hot outside.

That's why you sleep better in summer if you're a warm+-bath-before-bed person. Likewise, a hot bath before bed in winter feels great during, but afterward your body goes to work to lower your core temp again to a cooler temp. So probably in winter a room-temperature shower is best before bed. Or switch it to mornings.

Generally speaking in extreme weather, neutral temperature drinks likely let your body do its temperature-regulating thing more easily.

Then again, Amber, all the WORK you yearn to do in hot weather sounds like something one could just...not do? Happy to offer lazy-day tips on request. LOL.
And I very often don't practice stuff I know I could. It was just interesting to learn that tidbit and it stuck in my head.

hugs,
Hops
"That'll do, pig, that'll do."

sKePTiKal

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Re: Captain's Log - 2024
« Reply #79 on: July 29, 2024, 09:04:33 AM »
Fancy that: my glasses have taken almost a month to come in. I'll check on them again today. I cancelled my haircut, because in another 2 weeks, maybe - possibly - the bangs I'm growing out won't still require barrettes to stay out of my eyes. Eng of August, my hair should've grown past my shoulders again. I don't have any burning desire to have long hair again, except it's different.

It's been weird this time, that B is gone. I am struck by how easy it is to start depending on a person who is always there.

To be continued. These two are back in and I forgot my coffee.
Success is never final, failure is never fatal.

sKePTiKal

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Re: Captain's Log - 2024
« Reply #80 on: July 29, 2024, 11:09:29 AM »
So, B & I are still in a holding pattern with the docs. He hasn't said anything, so probably hasn't heard anything about insurance approval to test a different location for the stimulator leads. This means he has good days and bad, bad days. When he has bad days, he tends to use anger for the adrenalin kick it provides, to get him through the day. It is either a holiday or very very rarely, that he takes a day off to do absolutely nothing. He usually gives me fair warning, about his outbursts of anger - because, if he blindsides me he's not overly fond of my instant mirror-reaction. He's learned that lesson, I think.

This is a problem of "gentle souls" in this world, I think. They adjust, adapt & put up with life's slings & arrows till they're pushed past that amount of tolerance - and then they flip into anger. Hol has the same issue, but is handling hers a bit differently. The two of them, have butted heads when in the same mode, however. That didn't end too well as they've put some unnecessary distance between themselves and are communicating awkwardly again. It will take some time to mend that; C is helping - he and B have motorcycles in common.

And I think in some ways, this is a time when many of us (at least here on the farm) are struggling yet again with the old traditional archetypal patterns that define roles and how we manifest those. Between Hol and I, there is still good communication - but there is also something new coming from her. Sort of a pulling away; separating off into her own llfe. Which I WANT her to do. She keeps adjusting boundaries, while she's figuring this out. Sometimes, it's awkward but we're able to talk through it. She needs to have her own life, so I can have mine. I can't be her constant go-to for company if she's not content being on her own. She is learning how to enjoy solitude - but it's not her natural habitat. I don't think she'll ever be comfortable with a steady diet of it, either. But for me, it's massively therapeutic and beneficial. She has a hard time seeing how that's nutritious for me, when it definitely isn't for her.

C is still kind of an unknown to me. I have spent some time talking to him; getting to know him because he's way more socially skilled than S. He's done a lot of travelling - which Hol wants to do more of. They're making semi-serious plans. He's educated and seems to fit the profile of "digital nomad", although he's committed to rehabbing a house he bought just 1/2 hr north of our county seat. That kind of work is also right up Hol's alley and she thrives on being helpful and useful. He talks a mile a minute - which exhausts me but is a good chance for me to practice feeling confident and solid in my personal space; not feeling pushed. It's perfect for Hol as her quick wit & silliness can riff off his words in an instant. At least he has some dreams, ambition, and skills that he likes to be creative with in his own life! Something not seen at all, in S. She is still letting go of that slowly; sort of by attrition.

She's said that she's not creating any narrative or defining this new relationship. She is still a little gunshy after the back to back disappointments of the last two relationships. So, staying solid in herself. And she knows I'm not going anywhere... LOL. Stick in the mud mom!

I'm not noticing being a homebody means I'm at a loss for something to do! There is PLENTY to do around here, all the time and honestly, I have to call "we're not going anywhere these days" with B. Otherwise we'd be running hither & yon for this part or supplies, to nose around flea markets or farmer's markets. or for med appts. And then, there are the days/weeks he's got his mind on a project and he hardly comes up for air. I'm just goin' with the flow these days.

Two more cabinets are here for the studio. Cody helped get them upstairs. My custom made work cabinets should be done soon, too. So I can actually put things AWAY. And we can experiment with furniture layout. My sewing cabinet has been unboxed upstairs so I can start putting that together. Maybe Knuckles & I can do that today. Get started anyway. Hol hates these "ready to assemble" things, but she did get the 4 barstools done. I have a repair to do on the arm of her old couch (she collects them) - this will be a bit of a challenge. And I have trim still to cut for the new windows. She still has quarter round to cut for baseboards, but we need to also pull up/replace a couple of floor boards. Then it's just the fun decorating stuff.  (Like installing the glass shelves over the sink.) In that room. We have to demo the shower in the tiny bath: then move plumbing and probably drywall again. Vanity is already here, but I can shop for a mirror. Maybe. I have a pretty good sized one - repurposed from another project - that would fit that space, if I can perhaps find a frame. And I'm still considering wall paper in there. Something sorta toile-reminiscent... it's pen & ink linework - roses with skulls intertwined in an optical illusion. Overall pattern. It's just too perfect for that space and where I'm going with the whole space, but it's totally extravagant cost-wise.

The forecast is for a 50-50 chance of rain the next couple days. We REALLY need it. Spring was overly cool & wet - even with grow lights, my seeds did poorly till May. After Memorial Day, the drought set in with a vengence and even my herbs are looking sad. They are difficult to water being spread all over the place in the rocks. I guess I'll see what survives winter - and go from there.

Can you guess I'm looking forward to fall? I'm so over this heat & drought it's nowhere NEAR funny. And I'm getting tired of not having the studio "done" enough to at least stay in the A/C and sew. Had a historical project I was ready to start - just as Hol started pushing on the drywall. SIGH. We have different internal timetables, too.

No idea what I'll actually get up to, today.
Success is never final, failure is never fatal.

lighter

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Re: Captain's Log - 2024
« Reply #81 on: July 29, 2024, 01:15:33 PM »
Amber:  I nodded through much of your post as youngest DD is learning to feel secure in solitude, the heat is kicking me hard and projects are stuttering forward,stalling and starting again.

My 4 little Thai Basil plants are thriving, but I didn't start them from seed.  Our fruiting plants are very sad .. a second blueberry bush died.  Bless your energy and interest in growing your own food and apothecary.  I recognize it, but it's distant.

As for fall getting here, I'm with you.  I can't wait, even though it means hours of fending leaves off the moss.  I'll take it over this wilting heat.

Lighter
« Last Edit: July 29, 2024, 02:42:16 PM by lighter »

Twoapenny

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Re: Captain's Log - 2024
« Reply #82 on: July 30, 2024, 03:17:16 AM »
Skep I think the only thing I would do if I were cleaning naked would be to put a warning notice up to prevent trauma to others :)  Lol, I think I might be careful with products as well, not sure I'd want to get bleach splashed on my hoo haa :)  Lol I can only imagine heat now, it's rare for me to take my cardigan off these days :)

I think the thing that makes me angry about health related nightmares (such as B's and I know so many other people) is I think what the bleep is the point of us being lucky enough to have options and knowledge and surgery capabilities and all the rest of it and then making it so difficult for people to access it.  So many years he's been dealing with this now and still it's all up in the air.  Crazy situation.  I think it must help in some way that he's not dealing with it all alone though, stoical as he is, it does help with someone on your side.

sKePTiKal

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Re: Captain's Log - 2024
« Reply #83 on: August 03, 2024, 09:23:05 AM »
Tupp, he still thanks me for going to appts with him. No one's ever done that before. After the first surgery, driving back he was still coming up from anasthesia and had been given a pain killer. He was babblingly effusive about how much it meant to him that I went with and stayed to bring him back home. I sense that for whatever reason, none of his family or partners gave much of a damn about him - and refused to even have normal human compassion and consideration for him. Holly drove for the second surgery and so, she got his focus that time. Poor guy was pretty out of it.

It's good that I go, because sometimes he doesn't hear things correctly - or it triggers emotions from a past experience. Sometimes he forgets to ask important things or can't remember times/dates/incidents of concern.

So, having someone demonstrate CARE for him seems to be a new experience. That definitely colors our "relationship" a little differently. And my old resistence to allowing someone to take care of me has poked through a couple times, too. So we TRY, we make mistakes, we talk about it... and try again. Same way Hol has approached a couple faux pas with him, too. It kinda freaks him out that we don't just cuss him & then blame him for everything and make him miserable.

Heat is still around Lighter. They're promising a cool down but I'm not seeing my "comfort zone" in sight yet. We finally got a good rain last night and the resulting humidity is "different". LOL. Studio progress is happening again - I'm in the midst of deciphering how to put my sewing cabinet together - and have to back up 4-5 steps and reverse one panel. Also have to patiently correct an issue on the hydraulic machine lift. My storage cabinets will be done next week, then he'll bring them out. We've got to finish the baseboard on that side before then and Hol has been going bonkers with projects at her place.

Contractor will be out next week to finish her equipment shed & the gate opener; her friend is here helping her terrace her back hill, so it's plantable and stable - usable dirt in other words. (He's an absolute blast to be around too.) So I should have plenty of alone time to get stuff done in studio. When the cabs are here, I can FINALLY put all my "junk" away. We're getting down to phase 2 pretty quick - demo'ing the bathroom. Then I'll be able to work this winter out there. I'll concentrate on garden NEXT year. The conditions were just too insurmountable this year. Fingers crossed my herbs make it.
Success is never final, failure is never fatal.

lighter

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Re: Captain's Log - 2024
« Reply #84 on: August 04, 2024, 12:40:31 PM »
You've had big projects going nonstop, Amber.  As you finish up, one after er another, time will expand for gardening and time in the studio.

I keep thinking the same will happen for me....and it will.  There's so many wee small things requiring attention and I couldn't see them till the larger projects were finished.

So many small things. They add up to another big thing and will there ever not be a list?

I'm contemplating the lists, what's mine, what's important and what I'd rather pick up.  What do I have to put down in order to....
have order and more choice?

Lighter


sKePTiKal

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Re: Captain's Log - 2024
« Reply #85 on: August 30, 2024, 08:24:28 AM »
Not much progress to report. B is still away for a few more weeks - unless he just can't stand it anymore and decides to come home and with what's waiting for him here (two jeeps to maintain, 4 wheelers to rebuild, etc projects). Hol & I, mostly Hol... have managed to knock a few more "little pieces" off the studio list. One last one to complete - window trim is up; needs caulked, primed, painted.

Boys successfully made it home in their new truck, at least one is working and we've pointed the other in a couple directions. Instead of moving states away from home, they are contemplating moving to a bigger city a few hours away.

We had a torrential storm, the day before they all left. Washed out the new pad, under the equipment shed contractor had built (and hasn't finished)... because when contractor graded driveway, he didn't include drainage ditch on upside of Hol's driveway. Fortunately, her friends were here with equipment who jumped to, as the rain was ending and helped that situation out. Contractor is STILL messing about trying to get her solar-powered gate opener installed. I feel more confident in the electrician's ability to finish this. It's been going on, 3 months now. <rolleyes>  I understand he's really busy but he kept promising "next week" until we just rolled our eyes & ignored him. I even got involved, when he kept blowing Hol's questions off.

Still waiting on delivery of my commissioned work cabinets. I understand his day job has picked up a little but they're almost done... and I can't put things away or organize until they're here.

Seems S is now completely out of the picture. There have been some housekeeping details to finish up. But that's done, and she seems to be enjoy seeing C and spending time with him. He's renovating a house nearby, and she's looking forward to helping him. Then, they're planning some extensive travel together. I'm not sure how that's going to work with the dogs... and maybe it'll never happen. Don't know right now. But, she IS getting her social appetite satiated with getting out more & seeing/helping friends and having them over. I think she's planning to move her studio out to the garage... and then rearrange her house a little better to suit herself.

Contractor friend is highly interested in her, too. But respects boundaries. I like him a LOT and he is a good counter to her and her big ego.

I've been enjoying as much "quiet time" as I can, because I know fall is almost here and B will be back, and Hol's social meter pegs out at the top end then, too. B and I have lots of projects to work on by ourselves. Neither of us likes Hol's dive in and just get it done - all the while bossing everyone around - work attitude. We move slower and more deliberately, easier.

B is hitting more obstacles in the process of trying to get approval for the stimulator lead change. They're having a 3rd party medical "advisor" weigh in on whether this is medically "necessary".... so B's filed a grievance. And the insurance people even required him to get notarized "proof of identity" - even though he's had an open case number with them since '94!! <rolleyes>

It's almost time to think about bringing plants in, and getting snow shovels out... and I still have 3 comfrey plants to get outside. Might do that while we have plenty of rain in the forecast. I think last year's planting was about this time, too. Miraculously, it appears most of the herbs survived the drought.
Success is never final, failure is never fatal.

sKePTiKal

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Re: Captain's Log - 2024
« Reply #86 on: August 30, 2024, 08:30:12 AM »
OH... and the stimulator has been causing problems for him, and has been bumblingly "in process" now, since the spring. Meanwhile, I'm doing what I can with herbs to help with the muscle spasms/pain. I still need to order some teasel root.
Success is never final, failure is never fatal.

lighter

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Re: Captain's Log - 2024
« Reply #87 on: August 30, 2024, 08:51:46 AM »
Glad your herbs are hanging in.  One of our peach trees was torn apart ...deer?  Human?  Not sure what did the damage, but likely it won't survive.

I'm sending motivation vibes to B's care team and hoping they dial his needs in soon.

Lighter

sKePTiKal

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Re: Captain's Log - 2024
« Reply #88 on: September 24, 2024, 09:08:48 AM »
It's been feast or famine, this growing year - things are combining meteorogically in the worst way for plants. We had frost through May, my seeds didn't germinate until it warmed up in mid-June - when it stopped raining regularly and at the end of August, the deluges began. Now, the temps are resembling what usually happens late October/November around here.

Veggie garden was a complete waste this year. I only had time to get a few things in before the sauna started. B did his part to help but I need a weed solution that actually works. I might try paper mulch/straw next year. Hol keeps insisting I need raised beds - but I DON'T; I just need to be able to withstand brutal sun and 90 degree temps... and be less attractive to bugs. However, I might consider building a couple for certain specific things that deer find exceptionally tasty.

The herbs bounced back with some rain. I even got soapwort to take/survive this year. The feverfew is doing well and seems to help B's recurring meningitis symptoms (especially the headache; migraine sufferers use this a good bit). A simple tea, is all that's required. I have more valerian now, echinecea, the boneset is doing well; so is the skullcap. The horehound & hyssop are established; one plot of artemisia survived. And I keep killing my chamomile. Lemon balm (a mint), of all things is struggling. At my other homestead, it turned invasive and I had to pull it like weeds. Lavender is struggling too.

It's going to take YEARS of adding topsoil and amending the soil in the herb garden to get it "right". But that's OK. I just put in some more comfrey; Hol's are grown into bushes now.  I'll need to cut the lower branches of the trees in that area again. I think it's a bit too shady for some herbs. But I'll let the leaves fall where they drop, for winter mulch and leaf mould. Next year, an all purpose organic fertilizer goes into the dirt. Mother nature is managing a small field's worth of mullein for me. I must have 20-30 plants coming on for next spring.

Somehow, the remaining geese have found out they can swim under a section of fence where it crosses a corner of the pond. We've put boards across there... nothing works. And they can't find their way back in. Hol isn't feeding them regularly, either. So they've been free ranging. A couple days ago I found them half way down the road to the highway. Maybe they'll move to a neighbor's pond or join the roadkill brigade. Seems a shame to waste meat... and they could definitely be harvested; I think these are the oldest of the flock. Something has killed/eaten all the other ones and the ducks/chickens. S and Hol, simply don't care right now.

S is still considered a friend by Hol. Which is a handicap to her, in ways she doesn't realize yet. She IS definitely moving on past that time, tho. C is still around a good bit. Her friend who does land development has been here a lot lately, and bringing a model-worthy friend/helper with him... they're both adoring fans of Hol. After the first torrential rainfall, at the end of the day, they jumped back on equipment to minimize water damage and save the backhoe. The pad under the equipmment shed the contractor started in June washed out badly; he did send someone to fix it - and the next 2 storms like that washed it again. They've been saying for a month they'll be out to finish the fence/gate and put the sides on the equipment shed... so when he texted me, that they'd be here Thursday I asked him, "which Thursday?". Two-three months seems a long long time to wait on some simple small jobs. The work he did on the driveway in the spring held up OK, but he didn't do the drainage that Hol had talked about... which her friend has corrected.

This year has taught Hol we need more people out here to throw in, in certain situations. She can't do it all herself has sunk in loud & clear. There is a lot of brainstorming going on about this right now and I'm hoping that this week - if her friend & maybe Cowboy come out - and B is here (he gets in this evening) - we can all sit around and talk it through. She's working 3 days a week for our local butcher - finally. She's been applying for a couple of years. She wants to learn to butcher; and all their meat is locally sourced. And primarily she's there to network - other producers and craftspeople. Make local friends and participate in mutual assistance on projects as needed. (Which is directly from the Amish/Mennonite community model.)

The studio work is down to the last bits. Still waiting on cabinets - the door pulls (sliding doors) of all things are the main hold up now.

B's trip isn't how we'd expected it to go. No med appts; no progress on approvals to test a change in stimulator lead locations. So it MAY be a short visit. He does have to be back in December though, so will be here for Yule. Or maybe he'll stay through the fall. We haven't really talked much while he was gone this time. He was doing a lot of work on his place there. So we'll see what he has to say. We've got work to do organizing studio garage and his shop to make room for the rest of his tools.

It's been nice having 2 months "off" between visits this time. Hol is busier now so we don't hang out as much. I've gotten my easy solitude back. I'm less frantic as a result; as compared to trying to keep up with everyone else. This weekend - just before another big storm - I walked out on the porch and heard "kitty distress crying". Hol had just brought the mail up and ran recon/rescue while I found a box. We got two solid gray kittens; siblings; that are only about 6 weeks old closed into my bathroom. Someone must've dumped them because they can be handled - and one is downright lovey and a big purr - and they use the litter box easily. They wolfed down a small bit of milk and I soaked kitty crunchies in milk which they also ate. So the next morning I got milk replacer & kitten chow. I can't even take them to a shelter yet; they were exhausted & hungry (not starving) and literally just a handful sized.

Mr. Feisty and Ms. Demure have realized they don't need to worry if more food is showing up on a regular basis. They've started playing with toys and wrestling each other. So gaining strength and starting to thrive again. A couple more weeks and perhaps we can find a home for them.
Success is never final, failure is never fatal.

sKePTiKal

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Re: Captain's Log - 2024
« Reply #89 on: October 04, 2024, 09:10:31 AM »
News! 3rd party doc basically told insurance people they were idiots and to immediately approve the lead test on the stimulator. Of course, appt won't be scheduled until pain mgmt docs get the paperwork... in the meantime, surgeon approved an Rx for breakthrough pain as the controller for the morphine pump hasn't been holding a charge well... and that company is out of business, there are no parts, charging cables, or representatives anymore and B was told that the purchaser won't have new products for two years.

How many months has he waited for approval? I know the problem started in June/July... then, the wild goose chase of eliminating other possibilities causing the side effects... and while the test only lasts a week, that's plenty of time to determine if a new lead location causes the reaction. Then we wait AGAIN for approval for the actual surgery which requires travel into DC again. Fingers crossed that can happen before the end of the year. And even if that if all expedited, as I recall - when it was operating OK without side effects - he STILL had days he was in agony. So hopefully, the pain Rx, in combination with everything else - will be enough.

Lighter, I hope you're fareing OK, with your gaggle of friends & family. Sounds like the usual crews of good old boys are working hard to make roads as passable as they can. They're good at that! And supplies are starting to get through. Tho I hear that's been a struggle. Some isolated farms are OK, overall. They'll manage till services start coming back. They're not going to shelters - which I understand. Those places can be a mess to endure. But so many have lost almost everything - including their homes & vehicles - and they NEED the shelter until some other options open up for them. Those are the people who need prayers the most and a hand up, too.
Success is never final, failure is never fatal.