I rose with the sun at 7:00ish. Spring Forward is this coming Sunday morning, which will change that for a while, but I will rise later for a few more days. And yes, we really should do away with this.
Friday’s activities were bookended with a 10:30 doc appointment. I wrote, but did not finish in time. I also made coffee, and with the wars, the horrid Epstein new revelations (how can there be ‘new’?!), the bitterness of my cup matched my mood, and one must resist calling out, “How long?” We, liberals, have a long struggle ahead of us.
While I was getting coffee, the old sticky tile I put down years ago is starting to pull up and may be a hazard. Ugh! With me facing over $9,000 in co-pays and so on from my new insurance, and the stock market going up and down but over time just flat, I would like to avoid withdrawing cash from my IRA until the last minute. Repairs to the crawl space are four digits, and the tile fix is also in that space. I need to pick just one for this year. I called Jeff, my fix-it guy, and he was installing some flooring and suggested some fixes and costs. We will meet next week so he can do the work while I am away.
I have to shower and scrub, but apply no creams, as there is a visit to the dermatologist today. I want no exposure risk for them, and I want the cream to hide nothing (it is mostly absorbed, I was later told by the doc, and there is no risk of exposure, and in small amounts it is not a risk for others — I am used to chemotherapy and am very careful still). Dressed and all that (and managed to cut myself shaving; it always amazes me that I can still make that mistake), I boarded Air VW the Gray and quickly arrived at Goodskin.
The doc and staff were thrilled with the progress and were surprised but delighted that the Skyrizi company and support folks were jumping in to help (I would spend hours on the phone with them setting up apps, accounts, and even scheduling delivery of injectables). Training with the injection pen and reviewing risks and procedures for reporting back to the Skyrizi folks on results, side effects, and timing. Doc suggests continuing to use the successful items as part of the maintenance process, with Skyrizi as the solution for psoriasis. Even Skyrizi is a maintenance injectable. All exciting, but I never like to be on the cutting edge of medical stuff. I like to be boring and spend more time talking to my doctors about travel options.
I headed next to La Provence even though I knew the price tag would be a bit high for breakfast (Tom’s Pancake House’s traditional American stuff was $25+, and thus maybe it was OK), but I wanted to celebrate my recovery and my 2025 tax success. Have to remember to celebrate our successes and revel in something that went right. Ky was my bartender and used a catch-phrase, “On it!” I finished the blog and tried the rossto and poached eggs. Not that great, and also, I am still eating smaller amounts; I did not finish it. But I drank lots of coffee and water. No tummy issues. The croissant was lovely, as always. I watch one of the staff bring out sheet pans of croissants over and over. I imagine there was a glow around him as he carried French-style goodness to the distribution warming oven. Ky was friendly and grew up in southern Oregon. He was good company, but I spent much of my brunch writing.
I stop at the comic store and find two more issues that look interesting. I ask the staff how the cost works. The store buys everything delivered, and any unsold items are boxed for folks to search for back issues. Later, they sell the leftovers for a few bucks. Some items have been languishing for years.
The Lands of Unknown: Skinless Man 1 of 2 has a great story and artwork. It is a weird tale set in a mythical world, reminding me of Elric stories (when short and to the point), and I will get 2 when it comes out. The other one, The Last Day of H.P. Lovecraft 4, is dark, and I thought it was not that good. Howard used endless sentences and few stops (he had an endless, breathless sentence style). I have to get back to writing my story! But a good break. I read these on and off during the afternoon.
Back at the house, writing some church funding letters. Yup, time to ask for money again. It is like Pledge Week at PBS. Awkward but necessary, and it gives folks a chance to help.
I applied all the creams, took a nap, despite all the coffee, and then got a shake from my watch to stand or do something. I take a walk to my usual creek, about 1/2 mile away. My knee is sore of late, but there is no problem. My neighbor, driving her huge black SUV (with dark windows looking like something ICE would use), honks, and Harper waves to me. I see the school buses, and yes, it is school out time.
The cherry trees (and other stone fruit trees) are blooming. The crocuses are almost done, and the tiny weed flowers are back. Spring always seems early in the Pacific Northwest (if not soggy); I grew up in Michigan, expecting the long haul to flowers with the longer frozen winters. The creek is full and lovely. Someday, I will build an RC boat with a video camera and film my jungle exploring with my Attenborough-style voice narration: “Here we enter the Rock Creek and explore the spring floods.”
I walk back, and my watch is excited that I am exercising and starts tracking this. I pass two Little Free Libraries, and I will have to bring a few good options to trade. I saw something I might want. I mean to put one up someday in the shape of a TARDIS, but I have many plans I have not found the focus to start.
Home, I connect with Deborah, and we chat for a while. Later, she will call, and we will say good night. It is good to start and end the day together.
I head next to REI, where I find some maps of the Utah National Parks, buy National Park Annual Passes, and the protective covers that have an insert showing a local National Park. It does cover the President’s pictures. The Trump Administration has not continued the usual desire to have no living person on Federal items. From what I saw, it is the new normal to supply a cover for that part of the pass. I also bought an orienteering compass that I always carry when in remote areas (along with a good map). I went with the cheaper model, and the declination must be done manually (-6° in Utah and -7° in Oregon). I like to carry one set to the correct value instead of manually correcting it for each reading. Still, it was good. Gary from REI also suggested heading south from The Arches Park to The House on Fire (here). It is a mile hike with some rocks. We will see if we, not that strong at hiking, will be upto it. Richard had recommended it too.
Aside: My REI membership dates back to the 90s, when I did some software work for them in RPG III on an AS/400. My second visit to the Seattle area. I worked on their payroll system.
I looked at the maps and reviewed our trip details. I made the bed. I had stripped it and washed the sheets. I put on the other set. I alternate. I put on my PJs and read the rest of Ship of the Line, and one of the hardest of these stories. The hero, Hornblower, has to surrender his ship after 1/2 his crew was killed in a brutal 4-on-1 battle.
Cat replied to my text, and I had to reorganize my schedule for Wednesday to meet with her family. Cat was ill and is spending some of her time recovering here in Oregon. She is much better.
I finished the book; there is just one more book in this 3-1 printing. I soon sleep. Dreams fill the night, but all are forgotten. I slept until around 6:45, when I woke, and my watch suggested it was time to stand. Hmmm.
Thanks for reading!
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