01-28FEB21 - Sultan, WA (finally progress on covid vaccine:)

February starts off good, we finally get on a list for covid vaccine thanks to Rebecca being a county health care worker & we help her with child care.  We get first shot on 04FEBJ

Tuesday, 09FEB, Dan heads into Seattle UW medical facility for treatment/therapy on left pinky that has dupuytren contracture.  Because the condition was caught so soon, no rehab is needed this timeJ

Saturday (becca’s birthday) wake up to discover winds increased thru night along with snow.  Snow did not accumulate because wind blew it off yard.  Corrie’s garden shed that we repaired last month was destroyed (but our repairs heldJ, & one big evergreen hemlock downed!  Wind & snow continue until afternoon!  Sunday freezing weather with blowing snow; roads are ok now, but tomorrow rain/sleet forecasted probably making roads icy.  Monday temps hover around 32/34 degrees with light rain/sleet all day, makes unplowed roads (like ours) black ice.  Hopefully warmer tomorrow?  Tuesday temps mid/high 30s, snow & ice start melting; Dan clears decks/patio of snow.

Friday, 19FEB, good weather; re-stake some trees toppled by high winds; Dan works on clearing downed hemlock.  That evening we meet Rebecca, Raymond & grand boys at SeaTac airport hotel for dinner & to say goodbye to Raymond who is deploying with his National Guard unit for a yearL  Unfortunately there car’s rear window was broken out during the night.  We won’t bother you with the details of the repair, but it took four different attempts over a month to finally get it right.

Dan tries to ski several times Stevens Pass & leaves ski area as soon as getting there; because no staff, most lifts not running, too many people!!!  This ski season has been a disaster, might be time to ask for refund?

Last day of month Dan starts on building new greenhouse for Corrie.  This time it will be over-built like all of Dan’s “construction” projects🙃!

01-31JAN21 - Sultan, WA (so-so start to a new year)

Even though January is the start of a totally new year supposedly with all new beginnings possible, the entire month was blah because of weather, ongoing covid social distancing, & unresolved medical issuesL  The weather thru most of the month was combination of high winds & rains.  In fact the winds severely damaged our fabric greenhouse & required quite a bit of repair (ie gorilla tape & epoxy glue) to get it back together.

Dan tried skiing at Stevens Pass three times, but because of weather & staff shortages usually left early & went home after a few runs.  Thank goodness for a cheap season pass & only living fifty minutes awayJ

Tuesday, 19JAN, Dan sees “his” hand doctor at UW about dupuytren contracture now in Dan’s left hand.  Since this was caught at a much earlier stage, hopefully the rehab will be easier /faster than the right hand treated back in July 2017?

The Ryan RV Express: 01-31JUL17 - Sultan, WA

Wednesday, 20JAN, Dan wakes up w/another occurrence of angioedema in lower face, both cheeks swollen, lips puffed & numb; & most troubling inner throat starting to swell.  Off to the emergency room (amazing how fast you are admitted & hooked up to the monitors when you mention possible constricted airway🙃  Another three hours of monitoring on an ER gurney (but now Dan has learned to bring his computer, just wonder why these gurneys don’t have power ports or USB connections?).  Meanwhile Dan learns a new medical term – idiopathic (ie cause is unknown).

Well that’s it for our start to the new year; the biggest “drag” was not seeing the kids & grandkids at all (especially missing grandson Jaxson’s b-day).  At least we have a few pics to share of their hiking in Olympic National ParkJ!

01-31DEC20 - Sultan, WA (so-so holidays to end the year)

Because of the ongoing covid situation this December was very subdued compared to past holiday seasons.  Almost all public holiday activities were cancelled (or online only), but one nice thing was no fighting holiday shopping crowds.

So when we weren’t complying with the governors Stay Home, Stay Safe, order we made some short trips for medical, limited holiday decorations, Dan helping Habitat for Humanity with small house repairs, small projects around the shop & house; learning our son Joe had covid 19 (successful recovery); have our septic pumped & AC/heat serviced; one day of skiing for Dan; & snow on 21DEC.

Our limited big events even during pandemic were - Another reoccurrence of Dan’s angioedema & another trip to local emergency room for observation on 15DEC.  Celebrating our 39th anniversary with take out from one of the few restaurants open in Monroe even for take out.  Exchanging xmas gifts with Rebecca, Raymond & grandkids on the 24th in their driveway before driving back home.  Although we never make it to midnight on New Year Eve, our “celebration” this year was even more low-key.