01-31MAR21 - Sultan, WA (finally vaccinated!!!)

March was a month of significant improvement!  Biggest being getting our second covid vaccine shot 04MAR, observing the two week quarantine period!  Then immediately heading to east Bremerton for St Patties day with Rebecca & two grandsons (Jaxson & Mason).

Most of month was spent on building new greenhouse out of wood framing, sheathed with metal & plexiglass siding.  As usual for a Dan project, way overbuilt.

During month Dan made several ski runs to Stevens Pass.  Finally management has things under control, with good conditions.  Now Dan gets good four or more hours in with almost no lift lines.

March weather is very iffy, some sun, more rain, hail, clouds, wind, heavy sleet/snow, etc.  Combine weather with the state’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” policy; we spend too much time indoors watching TV.  But we have discovered one new show we both like & so we continue bingeing on it - “Ozzie & Jack’s World Detour”.  That’s right Ozzie Osborne the Prince of Darkness & Son Jack, as they travel the USA (sometimes in an RV).  Corrie thinks Ozzie is hilarious, even though often incomprehensible), Dan is a fan of the renditions of Black Sabbath or Ozzie songs by non-rockers (like church choir, college marching band, Mariachi band, etc).

Saturday, 06MAR, Dan has angioedema reaction – off to ER.  Allergy specialist still has no idea what is the cause, or how to prevent.

Since we have finished vaccine quarantine we head to daughter Rebecca’s to help with grandkids 17-20MAR at east Bremerton.  Corrie helps Rebecca with veggie garden. & Dan takes boys indoor rock climbing.

Saturday, 27MAR weather improves; Dan takes down large alder tree w/help of neighbors Bob & son-in-law Chris, something that would have taken Dan days & days was done in two hours.  As always Corrie gardens.  Monday, 29MAR, wake up to heavy wet snow, followed by rain/sleet & eventually sunshine.

Around the end of the month Rebecca, Jaxson & Mason hike the Dirty Harry’s Peak Trail.  Strenuous four miles in & four miles back, with 3000 foot climb.

AND our son Joe official became engaged to Bethany Chiasson💑!!! 

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!