Memorial Day Weekend

We had a nice long weekend. Dom and Kelsie drove down to see us. They arrived on Friday night with new board games to play with Maddie. Both are well, happy to have their jobs and doing well with them. We heard about the chickens, the guinea pigs, their huge strawberries (growing in biosolids), and plans for possibly a lawn. Sorry, failed in the picture taking department. Saturday morning Jim worked on the garden, hoeing and rototilling (Thanks Diana, Dom got it working) all the rows. The peas had to be weeded by hand. Thinned the radishes and so got a first crop of those. Then watered the tomatoes, and watered the rest with the big garden spayer. You know, thid thid thid thid thid chish chish chish chish. By Monday, it all looked pretty happy. The unexpected this over the weekend was a pretty good car deal developed up in Seattle for a car for Miesha. Well, Jim Amtrak trained up to Renton. Love the US train system, 1 hour late, of course, but what a great ride. Beautiful with some views of Puget Sound, and so nice to leave the driving to someone else. Got off at Mulkleteo.

Miesha met me at the Amtrak, with the car salesman and the car! She had waited a while with him, so knew everything about the car was really liked it. It is a rental return with 28,000 miles or so, a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt. Lots of good features; cruise, full airbags, On-Star, Radio-CD (the most important), a rear spoiler, and gets up to 34 mpg. She signed on the dotted line and, well, a picture is worth a thousand words. We drove it up to Bellingham then. I stayed the night and drove "Dinky", the Smart, home the next morning. Yes, see? That's why I took the train.

Sorry Dom and Kelsie, that I wasn't able to do anything with you guys, and I got back just after you left I guess. I hope you had a good time. Mom said the barbecue steak supper was good on Saturday evening. I guess you went to Powells. And Dom, thanks for helping out with that Fax, the backyard mowing, and all the great pruning you did on the grapes. They look great.

We heard from Mara and Patrick. They are now in Norfolk, and their stuff arrived there too on Monday. Buying some new furniture soon. We are so happy for them as they start their new life, "... in the Navy."

Well, have a good week everyone.

Mara's Graduation from KCOM 5-16-09 Imagine, Dr. Mara!

Mara's Graduation Pictures Today Mara graduated from the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, in Kirksville, Missouri. Jay Nixon, spoke eloquently about compassion for the poor and uninsured and a doctor's responsibility to advocate for health care reform. It was all very well done. It was preceded by Mara's military ceremony (On Armed Forces Appreciation Day) where she became is Lieutenant! Then a reception at Thousand Hills State Park. I'll post more pictures soon.

Mom's Health Update

Still bald but is thinking about growing hair. Chemo is over after 3 not so well tolerated doses. Got home from the hospital a week ago, after 5 units of blood from a bleeding duodenal ulcer, side effect of the Chemo.

But, doing much better now. Almost eating normally. No nausea or belly pain anymore. Hoping to get back to work on Sunday, May 3rd. Taking less drugs everyday. Yeah.

We are looking forward to traveling to Missouri for Mara's medical school graduation on May 15th with Dad.

Swine Flu (Influenza A H1N1) FAMILY NOTICE

... or as the Spanish speaking humans in the world call it, "La influenza porcina (gripe porcina)." As a newly evolved virus, and one which spans human - avian - pig, it seems to me there are a number of likely outcomes;

1. This will become a pandemic. In the age of mass travel, it's inevitable. Think about how AIDS spread, a virus relatively hard to spread (requires blood/semen transmission). This virus is respiratory.
2. A 5-10% death rate for those infected, if it follows current trends.
3. The virus will have greater vitality in populations where there is greater medical needs.
4. The virus may trigger changes in Avian flu that will result in it becoming a human to human transmitter, and this is important because.... avian flu is much more leathal to humans. Currently concentrated in Asia, avian flu will intersect with this new stain.
5. No one is talking about Latin America, but Peru already has one case yet to be confirmed, and there is a great amount travel between Central/South America and Mexico.

So, what can we do about it? See the new widget on the left? Best info source on the net. On the macro-epidemiology level, not much. On the micro-epidemiology level, that is, your personal health... Follow Health Department warnings, limit travel, avoid those who are sick, and if you get sick, stay home. Here's the office CDC recommendations:

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?

There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

1. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
2. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
4. Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
5. If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

And here's Dad's advice in addition to the CDC:

The handwashing thing is really true. Whenever you go into public, avoid touching your face, eyes, nose and mouth, until you have throughly washed your hands with soap and water or used alcohol based hand cleanser. And remember to hang onto that paper towel until you have shut off the water with it and used it to open the door to exit the public washroom, otherwise known as the den of dem bugs. No kidding. The door handle is the second most infected area in a public restroom. Can you guess what's #1? Yup, the toilet flush handle and that little knob on the stall door.

When there are known cases in your area, wear a N95 mask rated for bodily fluids (I've ordered a case), whenever you are going into a public area, and especially crowded areas and medical facilities. If you want to buy some, don't look at a pharmacy, go to Home Depot and look in the sheetrock supply area.

If you become sick with flu like symptoms (this is the respiratory type flu, not the stomach flu), stay home and treat the symptoms. Avoid exposing others by limiting contact and wearing a mask. Treat fever and pain with Tylenol. Treat cough with Robitussin with expectorant. Maintain fluid level and rest. Call your Dad or Dr. Mara if you have any questions.

If you (or anyone you know) has significant symptoms, call your health care system or your doctor, and follow directions. DON'T JUST SHOW UP AT THE CLINIC OR HOSPITAL. You will either be told to stay home and heal there, or if warranted, mask yourself and come into the doctor for an examination, or mask yourself and go to the emergency room. Significant complications to watch for are: difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, chest pain, and dehydration.

Pax Vobiscum

Smart Car Rally 3/21/09 to Multnomah Falls

We had some fun on Saturday, taking part is a Smart Car Rally, driving from Beaverton wtih about 30 other Smarties, to Multnomah Falls. Had a nice lunch there, hiked to the falls bridge, and meet some new friends.

Update on Pat

Since the beginning of the year we have been coping with breast cancer diagnosis, surgery and treatment with Pat. She had a mastectomy for a very small tumor in situ, and is now in the midst of checmotherapy, treatment 2 coming up this week, out of a total of 4. She's feeling good right now, but the chemo knocks her out for a week to 10 days. Anyway, it will improve her long term chances of no recurrance. We thank eveyone for their support and prayers.

Some pics:

End of Year Post in Pictures

Our Trip to MN in September. Left a few Obama signs around the State. This is Joey Novacek, in Greenbush, MN.

Bean, Maddie's little puppy, asleep at the wood stove.















Tom and Jan, Jason, Jennie, Tasita and Martin, on our visit during the MN trip.















We had an excellent Blueberry crop in the summer.
















Mara was with us in June, while she did practical clinic experiences in our area.















The improved lean-to to shelter the firewood on the back porch. It was later distroyed and torn down in December following 50 mile per hour winds.















Maddie and Jennie Kawachi at Christmastime. Jennie is our long time family sort-of-adopted daughter (Miesha's age).















On the visit to MN, in my Mom's backyard.















Also on the MN Trip, Pat's sisters, Vickie and Kathy, and their husbands, Jim Simon and Ronnie Pinski.















Our gay brother boxers. Bacio and Samson. This picture inspired me to think about the concept that the opposite of war is community [not peace, as most people believe]. Peace is a byproduct of community.




















Dom and Kelsie on our Eagle Creek, OR hike, November, 2008, at Punchbowl falls.















A picture, upstream at Punchbowl Falls.

Miesha and I shoveling snow, after our 1 foot plus snowfall for Christmas.

A little video of our unbelievable white Christmas in Camas!