Kingfisher Cove

Wow

Wow! because it’s hella windy/rainy outside (part deux of this weekend’s storms), plus {{{WOW!!!}}} because the Seahawks came from behind today in Houston and ended up winning in overtime – they’re unbeaten at 4-0.

Down 20-6 with only 8 minutes left in the game? So what? 

(I remember when we used to say that about the Mariners when there were two outs when we were up to bat. “Two outs? So what?” Because there was a time we consistently delivered in many of those situations. Seems like a v-e-r-y long time ago.)

Anyway, I’m sure my blood pressure was spiking this morning while I watched/listened to that football game. There was a point when I came *this* close to turning the TV off because we were playing so poorly, but I soldiered on. And I swear this is true: We’d had a little mojo with some things finally going our way, but Houston had the ball and I said out loud to the weenies and the cat (because John was working), “We need a turnover. C’mon, either a fumble or interception, you can do it.” And the very next play, we intercepted for a touchdown! (The dogs and the cat were quite concerned about my verbose antics, which included jumping up and down and screaming, “YOU DID IT! YOU LISTENED TO ME!”

Truth is, I’m not all that much of a football fan, but I do love the Seahawks, and especially when they are doing well. (And Russell Wilson is da man!)

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• I ordered my new iPhone 5s the day they came out and was informed that I wouldn’t receive it until the end of October (which is was fine, whatever). I got word that it had shipped! (Another “Wow!”) It could possibly arrive tomorrow. Squeee!
• Just finished a really good book (masterfully written) called “Beautiful Ruins.” It was basically a love story (and much more) and it switched back and forth between various times with various characters, bringing them all together at the end in an epic way. Sometimes that can be annoying, and I admit there were times when a new chapter would begin in yet another period of time and I’d think, “What, again?” But it worked. And the writing was sublime.
• Watched Episode 2 of Downton Abbey (4th season) tonight! wOOt!
• A whole lot of people in the Twittersphere and beyond watched the final episode of “Breaking Bad” tonight. I’ve seen most of the first season, but didn’t get beyond that, mostly because the subject matter was so dark and I just didn’t need anymore darkness. I appreciated how well-done the show was, but…and I do have to say, I’m curious about how the series ended. Maybe at some point I’ll invest the time in watching the remaining seasons.

A Fire Hose Kind of Day

Ugh. It’s not even October yet and it looks like November out there!

And if I actually had a real fire hose, I’d be aiming it at the idiot, toddler republicans threatening to shut down the government unless they get their way.

Well, Crap

NOW it’s the insulators that totally fucked up. (Yep, I said the “f” word). The inspector cited them on a myriad of issues and we have to wait for them to remedy their f*** screw-up. (Can’t be using that “f” word too often…)

Sigh.

So, still no sheetrock, still no siding. Although most of the siding materials were delivered today! John’s been picking up and hauling down the cedar shingles one pallet at a time (three so far, total of four), and the lumber vendor delivered MOST of the Hardie and pre-primed plywood (LP) that will be installed underneath the house. It’s there and waiting on the dipshits to fix their screw-ups so we can move forward (after yet ANOTHER inspection next Tuesday). John installed some outside lighting today, but the weather was pretty beastly so he wasn’t able to work on the “wiener walk” decking. He was home and napping when I arrived home from work this evening. He’s a sore puppy. When you are 60, physical labor doesn’t bulk you up. It just makes you sore as hell. Having to work (at Da Airplane Company) this weekend should actually provide him with some much-needed “chill” time. Hopefully.

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I watched the first episode of the new season of Downton Abbey online the other night. It’s only available in the UK right now and not available to US viewers until JANUARY. So I am feeling darned special! (If you are a fan, email me and I’ll provide you with the link!)

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Work is strange. For the first time since I-don’t-even-remember, I don’t have any proposals on my plate. This has been the case for the past two weeks. (Seems very weird!) It has given me the opportunity to address a whole slew of “housekeeping” issues that needed to be done but I just never had the chance to do. And I’m also working on a Powerpoint presentation that I will likely have to present at least in part (yikes!) about the marketing proposal process to our project managers for a “Lunch & Learn.” I’m actually quite jazzed about this! I have a lot of knowledge and I’ve been collecting TONS of resources over the years for this exact type of opportunity. I’m sure I have too much information, which is not a bad problem to have. I know this material. I have lived it for 30 years. So, even though I hate the idea of public speaking, I do visualize myself handling myself quite well with this — because I know this stuff!

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Very glad it’s Friday night and that we didn’t drive down to Harstine. Expecting godawful weather this weekend, with lots of rain (and possibly wind). Certainly not an “Indian Summer” this year.

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Feeling sad that I haven’t heard from Nate in ages. He’s completely absent on social media, too, (no goofy or face->palm comments on Facebook) so I’m assuming he’s on some secret assignment somewhere. Maybe relating to the Syria thing? Which doesn’t appear to be a “thing” (thankfully!) anymore? I dunno. I know he’s well into adulthood, but I’m his mama and I miss that bugger.

Bubbles

It was a little scary when I woke up this morning to my alarm clock an hour later than usual (got to sleep in a bit for my ENT doc appointment), and I was SUPER dizzy. As in, bumping the walls dizzy. What was weird was that in spite of that, I felt really good. Wide awake (well, I’d had plenty of sleep) and not feeling nauseous from the dizziness. But I also realized that I had slept the sleep of the comatose. Typically I wake up a lot throughout the night, tossing and turning, trying to get comfortable, maneuvering around pets, and I’m usually aware at some point that John is in the shower well before the butt-crack of dawn, or I hear his car drive away, or something. I was completely OUT until that alarm went off. And so I attributed my dizziness to the new medication my doctor prescribed for my back issue. It scared me because I thought, “Should I not be taking this medication? Will I be able to drive myself to my doctor’s appointment?” I stumbled into the shower, stumbled over to my vanity area and did makeup and hair, stumbled into my clothes, and v-e-r-y carefully shuffled down the stairs and made coffee. I’d allowed myself plenty of time, so I had a couple of cups plus I ate breakfast, all hoping that it would help matters. It did for the most part, and driving wasn’t a problem at all. It was walking that concerned me. It wasn’t until I was sitting in the waiting room at the ENT doc’s office that it hit me: This dizziness is most likely because of my EAR. I remember experiencing that a couple of years ago when I was seeing this same doc for my ear infection. Duh!

So guess what those bubbles on my eardrum were that so baffled my regular doctor? Residue from the earwax removal stuff. The earwax was all gone, but it left behind some globs of whatever the hell it is. Heh. (I’d told her I’d used that stuff, but she obviously didn’t connect the dots). The ENT appointment was very thorough, including “vacuuming” out the earwax removal residue, an intense hearing test (left ear left a bit to be desired), and a nose scope to check to see if there were any blockages between the nose/sinuses and the ear (none).

So, I have a lot of fluid behind that ear. He said that decongestants don’t seem to work well to remedy that. (“Surprising, because you’d think it would work, but it just doesn’t.”) I’m on antibiotics for 10 days, and if that doesn’t clear things up, I’m going to need to have a tube inserted.

In other words, when you become an old fart, you regress into toddler-dom. 

Updates

I went to the doctor this morning (about my ear issue and back pain) and it was all kind of strange. (I think I’ve mentioned that I’m not particularly jazzed about my doctor). Anyway, we first of all talked about my back symptoms—traveling discomfort that migrates from the left side of my back around the side to the left side of my chest. Sometimes it’s a stabbing pain, like a chicken bone is caught in there, poking organs or something (although nowhere near my belly). I remember having a surgical procedure many years ago where they pumped me full of gas and warned me that I would feel the effects from it for several days after the surgery. And boy did I! It was like it trapped in my shoulder area and it was seriously uncomfortable—a lot more so than the after-effects of the surgical procedure itself. This feels somewhat like that, which is why I’ve been taking OTC gas relief medication, as well as ibuprofen. (Nothing has helped). I got a lot of blank stares from the doctor. Made me kind of want to shake her.

But what she thinks this is, and it makes a certain amount of sense, is residual nerve pain from the shingles. It covers the same side, the same path as the shingles did. Plus, it feels similar to how I felt for the week leading up to breaking out with the shingles rash. (I remember thinking I had a “gas problem” then, too). But I’ve been dealing with this all summer long. She prescribed some medication for nerve pain, plus an anti-inflammatory, and I’m sure hoping that helps. If it doesn’t, then she thinks it’s probably muscular/skeletal and she recommended physical therapy. (I swear doctors are in cahoots with physical therapists…)

So then I asked her to peer at my ear (I don’t think she was going to do that on her own) so she sticks the scope in the ear and I hear her take a sharp intake of breath. Then she said, “I have never seen an eardrum look like that before!” She seemed rather shaken up about it! She said, “It’s like it’s covered in bubbles.”

WTF?

So, I now have an appointment with the ENT doc tomorrow morning (same one I went to a couple of years ago when I had the ear infection from hell). (And yes, it’s the same ear).

Getting old sucks.

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Did that SMPS luncheon/workshop yesterday with Chucklehead and I lucked out because we sat at different tables. Getting there and back was full of face->palm moments (holy crap what a doofus!), and every once in a while I worried what kind of obviously idiotic impression he was making among other marketing/BD staff from various companies (as well as potential clients!) But mostly I just enjoyed myself sitting among other A/E marketers who actually “get it.” Some were with firms I used to work for, and I ran into several people I knew, which was fun!

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John’s heading down to Harstine tomorrow after work and spending the night. The inspection is supposed to happen tomorrow, and then we can move forward with sheetrock and siding. Things have been a slow-go since John finished the roof, and it’s been frustrating waiting on others. Grrr.

Random Crap

• My left ear keeps plugging up. (Yep, same ear that gave me grief a year ago or so when I had to see the ENT who basically did nothing much, except charge the insurance company a butt-ton of money). I’ve been squirting in the ear-wax removal thing, snorting Flonase (I read that was recommended, as it’s all connected through the Eustachian tube) and the bottom line is that I cannot hear out of that ear.
• Back pain. Kind of weird, like it’s tied to my digestive system somehow. I won’t go into the sordid details.
• Yeah, I know. I need to call the doctor. And explain my symptoms umpteen times to the receptionist, the nurse, and the doctor, because they don’t communicate with each other; likely have separate visits for each ailment (with separate co-pays); then be referred to other doctors (with additional co-pays and revisits with even more co-pays). And more explanations repeated ad infinitum to the receptionists, nurses, and doctors, because they do not communicate with each other.
• I’d feel differently if I actually liked my doctor. I don’t. She’s nothing but a clearinghouse.
• Chucklehead continues to be on my very last nerve, every single day. He is a mash of Jinx-the-cat (Pixie and Dixie’s nemesis: “I hate meeses to pieces!”), Scooby Doo, and Porky the Pig (Th-th-th-th-that’s all, folks!”) You can throw Baby Huey in there, too. As well as Homer Simpson. I have zero respect for the buffoon. He honestly is a cartoon.
• I get to spend three long hours at an SMPS luncheon tomorrow with said buffoon. Help me.
• I bought a new coat! Isn’t the color purdy?

Disregard my hair. I have had nothing but bad hair days lately and I don’t know what to do about it! My bangs have a mind of their own, the wacko curl has been uncontrollable, and I haven’t been happy lately with how my hair lady cuts my hair.

Maybe I’ll see if I can get into the doctor tomorrow and thereby “miss” the luncheon with Chucklehead, and then make a point to find a new hair person.

Yeah, that’s the ticket! Heh.

Goodbye, Hello

Sad to say goodbye to Summer. It was a stellar one, that’s for sure. We had so many gorgeous Harstine days, lots of deck fires in the mornings and evenings, and not many uber-hot days, either. I believe I can count on less than one hand the number of days it crept into the 90s. Yeah, working on the roof had its sweat-dripping moments for John, but it could have been so much worse. (Like, either beastly, or else days on end of rain). Yep, this will go down as one of the best summers ever. Even our vacations down here were super!

Yesterday was forecast to be rather icky, but as the last day of summer it had other ideas. It was beautiful! This was taken yesterday morning as the fog was lifting — get a load of the sunshine on the trees over on Squaxon Island:

It did finally rain a little, but it was short-lived and pleasant under the camping trailer’s deck cover.

So today is hello, Fall. And what a difference a day makes! Holy cow. Pouring rain, blustery, dark.

Thankfully, the house is closed in! John’s been “puttering,” adding a few more power outlets, wiring up some additional outdoor lighting, installing the garage lighting, and also working on the “wiener walk” deck, which is partially undercover, but not entirely. (So I imagine he’s rather wet!) We’re awaiting sheetrock and siding. The plumber needs to get his ass out here to remedy a few inspection “dings” and then we’ll have another inspection before we can move forward. Sigh. Hoping this transpires this coming week.

The Best Political Ad EVER

This is so good, so well done! And it even made me tear up!

Massachusetts is pretty awesome.

A Ballistic Rant

If you’re a republican, I’d like some clarity about a number of things.

First, republicans were outraged that Obama drew a red line in Syria. Then they were outraged that Obama would bomb Syria without asking Congress. Later republicans were outraged that Obama asked Congress instead of just bombing Syria. And now republicans are outraged that Obama is NOT bombing Syria.

Explain that to me. (I have a hunch. Could it possibly have to do with our president’s skin color? It seems to me that whatever his inclination may be, yours must suddenly switch to the opposite view if he happens to agree with you.)

And also explain to me why this is a good (?) thing:

Drill down and take a hard look at that sucker. Embiggen it. Absorb it. And this is only through 2007! Since then, it’s so much worse because of the economic/Wall Street/housing crash that the rest of us carry on our backs. This is what happens when investments have more credence than labor. This is what happens when there is such an obscene amount of money to legally bribe (yes, bribe) our legislators, thanks to “Citizens United,” which was signed, sealed, and delivered by the conservative majority of the Supreme Court. They don’t represent US. They represent the top 1-5%!

Here is an eye-opener from 2009 – 2012:

Personally, I feel this. If I was on my own without a double-income household, I would be struggling, and I work my fucking ass off. My wages today, if they had kept up with the buying power of 1989? Should be $20,000 more than what they actually are. Where are you? Well, you can check it out here.

I think what frustrates me, infuriates me the most, is all the middle class and poor republicans out there who THINK THIS IS JUST FINE AND DANDY. What planet are you on? In what alternate universe?

The republicans want every woman to give birth. No abortions, not even birth control. And so when all the struggling people out there have their babies, KABOOM. You’re on your own, you slut! And no, we don’t want to pay you a living wage to support your babies. And no, we don’t want Obamacare to provide health care to you or your babies. And no, we don’t want to fund education for your children. And no, we don’t want to provide any kind of safety net that just *might* ensure that your child—the future generation—can grow to be an educated and productive member of society.

(Because…why? Educated people tend to vote democrat?)

It’s depraved.

I know this is angry. I’m feeling mighty angry.

And a lot of it has to do with yet ANOTHER mass shooting.

Wild Day!

Weatherwise, for sure. I woke up to thunder and drank my coffee on the (thankfully covered) deck and listened to the rumbling for quite some time, as it increased in crescendo to roaring CRACKS! and BOOMS! Didn’t see any lightning, though, until we were down at our neighbors’ for our potluck, and wow. Bolts zagging across the water! Some torrential rain at times, too!

I didn’t take any pictures at the potluck (nobody else was, and I felt it would be weird), but we had a nice time! We met the new neighbors (who moved into the home of a couple that moved last summer and we really miss because she in particular was a real hoot—made me think a lot of Carol Burnett. And actually her husband reminded me of Kirk Douglas, although he was losing his mental faculties, which I think is the main reason they moved to California to be near family and medical care). But the new neighbors are really nice, too—he’s a Boeing engineer (not sure what she does). They’re weekenders like us (at this point).

The hosts of this year’s potluck have had their house up for sale all summer and it sounds like they’ve found a buyer. They’ve been there for 15 years, but he’d had a mild stroke a year ago or so and they’ve decided they want to live closer to medical facilities and are moving to Olympia. (They also go to Arizona for the winters). We will really miss them, too. They are a neighborhood staple, and have been so kind to allow us to launch our boat from their place (which works great during high tide and makes it so we don’t have to take the boat to the marina 8 miles away). The people who are looking to buy their place work at Microsoft and they have young children, so that will be a different dynamic in the ‘hood. They’ll be weekenders with plans to retire there eventually. It’s a gorgeous place.

It’s also a BIG Seahawks game tonight against the 49ers (Sunday! Sunday! SUNDAY!)

They had an hour weather delay because of the thunder and lightning. PLUS, they also broke the Guinness World Record for loudest stadium, TWICE! (And no, I don’t think it was augmented by the thunder!)

Seahawks WIN!!!