Kingfisher Cove

Die! Fly! (flies...)

Just got up from a very unsatisfying nap because this trailer is (and has been!) full of flies!  I kept being buzz-bombed.  (No, the crab shells are in the freezer awaiting disposal on the beach, which we forgot to do earlier today).  Not sure what's up with that, but they've been bad.  We even picked up a "No Pest Strip" at the store yesterday, and if that thing works at all, it's extremely s-l-o-w acting.  I was actually surprised that they still made them because as I recall they became an environmental issue years ago.  They're probably 1/1000th of the strength they used to be.

I've had a relative reprieve (knock on wood...veneer?) from the pain after waking up this morning frantic with it.  Don't know what's up with that, either, but I'll take it.  I have kept the Vicodin flowing, which I'd been avoiding up until now, mostly because if you run out of the measly amount they prescribe and request more, you're viewed with suspicion, never mind that you just want the effing PAIN to go away so you can live your life.  (And when the instructions say "Take With Food"?  Believe them.  Nausea on TOP of pain is never a good thing.  Trust me on this).  I'm still having uncomfortable twinges and crunches, but at least I'm not hell-bent on seeking unconsciousness.

The weather has gradually deteriorated today, but it was pleasant enough earlier this afternoon to take a quick beach walk.  We left it up to Mojo to join us, but he opted to lay on the deck and watch us from there.  We each found a small handful of agates -- a challenge when the sun isn't shining -- but we're that good.  Later I was surfing on my laptop out on the deck when big raindrops started falling.  It was amazing all the STUFF we had to scramble to move off the deck -- we'd become complacent with several days of beautiful weather.  The rain didn't last long, but it is cool out there.  I've put away the carpris and now jeans and a sweatshirt are the current style of choice. 

Misery, Beauty, and Alaskan King Crab Legs

I am so disheartened and so frustrated with this godawful pain.  It takes precedence over everything.  It's all-encompassing, like relentless sound waves from a constantly clanging bell that just won't stop.  I have been searching desperately for walls to climb to try to escape from it.  I had been doing pretty well for several days -- the pain had diminished and while I dealt with odd numbness and tingling, it was pretty tolerable.  This is SO NOT.  I hate to think that it was kayaking that stirred it up again, but the pain came flooding back the next day after our wonderful excursion.  It might have anyway.

The heating pad, the Icy-Hot, the muscle relaxer, the Bromolain, the anti-inflammatory, and the Vicodin even all combined attack this about as well as the effects of tossing a pebble into the ocean. 

In many ways, this vacation is ruined.  I know it has to be terribly disappointing for JDub, too.  But overall, I'd rather be miserable here than at home -- or at work.  I have all the symptoms of either a compressed or herniated cervical disc (in my neck).  Our health care system takes the approach of "wait and see" with this, but I have a hunch they have no possible idea as to the extent of this pain.  I've been dealing with this for over a month now.  Next week I'll go to physical therapy and also try to get a massage in -- and if nothing comes of that, I'll seek out a chiropractor.  Throw whatever I can at it.  And it means time off work, which bothers me, too.  Obviously I'd prefer to not to go the surgery route, but I'd jump at the chance if it would relieve this pain, as it did when I had a lower lumbar herniated disc several years ago.  As it is, unconsciousness is my only relief. 

Through the red haze, I've been aware that it's been absolutely gorgeous here, with tons of sun and blue skies and blue water and warmth (but not too hot).  We ran errands yesterday (I wished I could have been unconscious during the twisty/bumpy drive), and took a huge load to the dump, plus stopped for groceries.  We're approaching the end of this fabulous weather,though, with clouds and even rain expected in the next couple of days.  

We sure had a marvelous dinner last night:

 

Yup, Alaskan King crab legs!  They were very easy to cook -- I'd never been sure just how you did that, but we steamed them in the oven over the broiler pan (boiling water in the bottom, then tented loosely with foil) at 350 deg. for about 4 minutes.  And then, yes, dipped in melted (real!) butter!  (My bad...) 

Vacation...on a low note

The sickening pain is back, radiating in relentless waves from my neck down to my hand.  These last two days have been such a bust, and the weather has been so beautiful.  But I've hardly noticed.

On another note, Mojo caught a mouse again last night -- and growled like a demon when JDub tried to take it away from him to dispose of it. 

What a kitty.

A Mouse and Funky Flames

Mojo was very scarce late this afternoon into the evening and I was feeling a little concerned.  Finally we saw him out of the corner of our eyes flying inside the trailer from our vantage point on the deck in front of the fire.  I was relieved, and figured he'd gobble down some food to nourish his wild spurts and ongoing growth spurt, then join us on the deck, as usual.  When he didn't reappear after some time, I went inside and here was this mess all around the pets' water bowl -- water everywhere, and one wet kitty.  I attributed it to the (almost?) full moon and youthful exuberance (which is a common occurrence, although he's certainly never shown interest in "playing in the water" before).  I sat him on my lap in front of the fire and all four of his paws were sopping wet and they soaked through my capris!  He "washed" those paws pretty well, and then slipped down off my lap to venture into the darkness. 

THEN, Bailey (long-haired dachshund) went inside the trailer and we heard this strange thumping commotion.  My first thought was that she'd gotten into the garbage.  JDub went in to see what she was up to, and she had a (dead) mouse in her mouth!  (I am so damned glad JDub was the one to make that discovery and not me!)

What we believe happened was that Mojo caught a mouse outside and brought it inside the trailer and had it cornered near the pets' water dish (it's partially hidden under the garbage bag that we hang on a cupboard door).  That explains his odd behavior creating havoc with the water.  He'd either killed it, or else I interrupted the "killing" when I brought him out to sit his wet self on my lap.  And either Bailey finished it off, or else she scoped in on a dead mouse.  For a little while after JDub disposed of the mouse, the two of them were WIRED, flying around and under and through the trailer 90 mph.  Now that we're all back inside, Mojo is all blasé and Bailey is sniffing every single square inch of the trailer's interior, absolutely OCD.  I'd cleaned in here today and there was sure no sign of a mouse then, so we're pretty convinced that was the correct scenario.

Good kitty!  Much prefer catching mice to catching birds.

As we sat around the fire, JDub brought over a small box with three packets inside and tossed them on the fire.  While my eyebrows were all scrunched up in puzzlement, he explained it was something he'd picked up at Camping World when he bought the new fridge -- called "Funky Flames".  For $4 (!) you toss the packets on the fire and you get all kinds of colors.  FUNKY colors.  Wooo.  Well, there was a little bit of purple, and then a little bit of blue, and maybe some green.  Oh, and later, some yellow.  Last year he'd tossed a small piece of scrap PVC pipe in the fire and it was definitely a lot FUNKIER.  (A lot cheaper, too!)  It seemed like a potentially interesting funky baby-boomer thing to do:

A Couple More Cute Kitty Pictures (sorry...)

Balances himself while he watches BIRDS (you can really see his "thumb"):

Cuddles with Peanut: 

Swims with Mama:

Peaceful Excursion

It was almost like kayaking on glass.  We followed a kingfisher along the shoreline for quite a distance and glided over lots of jelly fish, plus tiny little fish constantly jumped all around us.  It was heavenly, it really was!  Today my shoulder/arm/hand are pissed off (and I did get a blister on my thumb from the paddle), but overall it was worth it.  Some pretty clouds off to one side:

When we go kayaking, we have to lock up the dogs in their cage/kennel because 1) they refuse to go along with us, 2) they are absolutely frantic if left on the beach while we're paddling away, and 3) if left loose inside the trailer they'd dig up the carpeting at the threshold (we know this from experience).  As it was, they were frantic inside the the cage, but at least we didn't have to worry about them. (And after a while, we could no longer hear them all the way from the beach to the trailer!)

It was just wonderful.  And now this morning (another gorgeous one), I'm heading to the shower to remedy the grossness of my hair. (etc.)

 

 

 

 

Update (post shower):  A little better!

They're All Slaving at the Office and We're Not

At the moment, JDub's having himself a nap and I'm doing this:

Once again, what a difference a day makes.  Summer is back for the next few days.  Woot!  Last night it was too windy (and cold) to sit out on the deck so the scene looked pretty much like this:

I actually fell asleep on the couch about 9:30!  But today is gorgeous and we took a beach walk and found some agates.  The plan is that we'll eat an early dinner (marinated flank steak with my own Special Marinade that includes Worchestershire sauce, soy sauce, red wine vinegar, and Black Velvet bourbon!  Oh, and some spices and seasonings, of course!)  Then we're going kayaking, as long as the wind doesn't kick up again. 

We Have The (almost) Perfect Cat

Why is that when you love your kitty and he does something naughty, such as pick out jigsaw puzzle pieces from the box with his teeth, leaving bite-marks in those pieces, and then when the puzzle is completed and you see bite marks everywhere, you think that's just so damned cute?

That's probably a dangerous way of looking at things.  I know parents of human children who are that way, and quite honestly, a flinging cup of milk soaring across the kitchen is not a bit cute.

At least with cats and dogs, you don't have to worry too much about what kind of people they'll end up being when they grow up, within reason.  Actually, that "within reason" came into play on the beach today.  We were sitting on the deck and witnessed several people with three dogs, two of them large and leashless, and those big dogs tore into the small (leashed) dog.  By the sound of the small dog's shrieks, we thought dire damage had been done.  He was OK.  But his owners were pissed as hell, as you can imagine.  On the other hand, we could later hear the owners of the big dogs talking among themselves and feeling terrible about what had happened.  (They'd let their dogs off their leashes so they could play in the water).  I really don't like big dogs.  I suppose that's narrow-thinking, but they are by nature more difficult to control, and tend to be kept outside in pens or tied up and therefore not socialized (but keeping one inside isn't very doable, either).  I have known and even loved a few big dogs, but I would never own one. 

Mojo gets away with a fair amount of naughtiness, but it's balanced with a nice amount of sweetness.  And humor!  (Plus, he's small and can't do a whole helluva lot of damage...yet).  We have a squirt bottle full of water at home that gets used now and then (scratching furniture, etc.).  Here at Harstine it's the hose (when he gets too close to the bird habitat).  I've got to remember to bring the camera with me into the bathroom.  Almost always, while I'm "sitting" in there, these crazy big white Mickey Mouse-gloved paws slip under the pocket door looking for trouble.  It's just so damned cute!

The kitteh does think he's a wiener dog:

Can you believe how much he's grown?  He's just shy of 4 months old.  If he grows into those amazing paws (with the extra toes), he'll be one giant kitty.

Didn't Bother to Take Any Pictures

Today was pretty much a bust with the weather, and there seemed no point in taking pictures of grayness, wetness -- plus wind doesn't photograph well, either. We were expecting this, but it's still disappointing after yesterday's gorgeousness.  What a huge difference.  We made the best of it by taking care of a bunch of errands in town.  The highlight was going to Wally World and getting a new paper towel holder, kitty litter, screws, a new sweatshirt, a microwavable heating pad, and some eggs.  (Several other things, too, but you get the "picture").

Exciting stuff happening!

Oh, and we took a nap, too.

I did say I was ready to relax...

OK. I Can Relax Now.

We. Have. Arrived.

(Be sure to click the picture to see an enlargement cuz it's purdy). I left work at noon!  Yes, I actually completed that proposal!  I lucked out big time because it ended up being pretty straight-forward, and so therefore nobody needed to be garroted.  In fact, I left work on a very uplifting note:  completed the proposal, completed the newsletter (to kudos!), PLUS a huge proposal I slaved and fretted and sweated over a couple of weeks ago in the midst of all that awful pain and the breast biopsy, was announced today as a million-dollar win for the company!  Nice to ride those wings into the vacation sunset.

Once we got here, poor JDub had to haul that new refrigerator inside the trailer and install it.  This is a 30-foot trailer, and so the fridge is pretty good sized, PLUS it had to be maneuvered up deck steps and around permanent obstacles and hoisted straight up a good two feet off the trailer floor (in a very narrow space) to guide it in the hole.  Needless to say, I was hardly any help at all.  And the fridge had virtually no hand-holds.  It was out of sheer will and moxie (and the knowledge that we had a good $150 worth of perishables counting on him) that he was able to manage it.  And then, once he had it all hooked up and turned on, we stuck the thermometer inside and decided to wait a bit before loading it up with food to make sure it was working OK.  In the meantime, the vital stuff was in the cooler with ice, although we'd bought a bunch of stuff at the store along the way that needed refrigeration, but there was no more room in the cooler!  After about a half hour I checked the thermometer and it hadn't changed a fraction of a degree.  I thought, "hmmm" but really didn't worry too much about it until another half hour later I checked again and the temperature still hadn't budged.  Then I worried.  Well.  THEN JDub pulls out the manual.  (I'm smiling as I'm typing that last sentence.  JDub just never pulls out the manual.  He's MacGyver, dontcha know?  Although there is that term, "RTFM" -- Read The F...ing Manual.  For him it's a last resort).  These RV refrigerators use ammonia instead of freon-type stuff for cooling (which he knew), and apparently they take up to "four hours to start to cool when turned on for the very first time."  Well, it's cooling now, I'm glad to report.  Didn't have to wait quite the four hours.  For $1,300 you'd think the damned freezer part would be self-defrosting, but of course not!

It's gorgeous here this evening, but boy is the sun setting a lot earlier these days.  And we're due for a rather yukky weekend.  But the WEEK is supposed to be stellar and possibly even go-swimming hot!  For once it actually doesn't matter much that the weekend is sucky while the work-week is sunny.