Tag Archives: wildfires

Sep29

More Ash And Smoke

Posted on by
Standard
More Ash And Smoke

With the air quality alerts we’ve had recently, I’ve been finding more things to do inside. I’ve been reading and writing more. And I’ve been watching more TV. I know. I should be sorting through documents and clothes in preparation for my trip to Mexico next month. I should be contemplating that last venture to Bath and Body as well as Walmart. I should be hunting for my 2026 Kinkade calendar. But I’m procrastinating.

Went to the theater on Saturday to see Eleanor The Great. Enjoyed the movie but not all the ash that had settled on the car in the parking lot. As always, the pastor delivered a great sermon on Sunday. Then we all descended to the lower level of the church for the chili cook-off. Fellowship and food. And I got to show off a photo of my granddaughter Madeline that my daughter sent me that morning.

Monday is my stay at home day. Laundry. Ugh! Not my favorite indoor activity. In the afternoon I had my Bible Study on Zoom. A great way to stay in touch with friends when it isn’t possible to meet in person. Then I finished off a module in a course I’m taking online.

Coming up indoors this week are writers group, book club, small group and lunches with friends. Possibly a hike through Costco, LOL. I’d rather be out on the loop.

The weatherman keeps threatening rain. Hmmmm. Hopefully, but no lightning please. There are enough wildfires burning all around us. One of them is limping towards Wenatchee. That’s getting a little too close for comfort.

Please keep praying for all the firefighters and the people who have been evacuated.

Sep24

Smoke And Ash

Posted on by
Standard
Smoke And Ash

It’s a little late this year but it’s time to get out those M95 masks. Washington State is on fire. Wildfires are raging everywhere. Blewett is closed and traffic has been rerouted through Stevens Pass. Several areas have received evacuation notices. And I’m hibernating inside as much as possible.

Autumn Leaf Festival happens this coming weekend. I usually go to Leavenworth for the annual parade. But not this year. The air is saturated with smoke and ash. I follow the air quality warnings and they are far from encouraging.

As I sat outside yesterday waiting for my ride, I could hear the drone of aircraft overhead, but I could not see them. As I write this, I’m looking out the window at the dreary sky. It’s a good day to stay in and write. The smoke is worse than it was yesterday. And I haven’t heard the sound of helicopters today. Not a safe day to fly.

Please keep all the firefighters in your prayers.

Sep6

Take This Drug

Posted on by
Standard
Take This Drug

The mountains have disappeared for a change. There are wildfires burning all around us. All we have are masks to protect us. Why isn’t there a drug to combat the effect of smoke on the body?

There are drugs for just about everything else. Hypertension. Memory Loss. Constipation. Weight Loss. Heartburn. Arthritis. Sciatica. Hair Loss. Depression. And those are just a handful of the commercials I zap through when I watch TV.

The side effects alone are enough to dissuade me from ever using them. But unfortunately many people tend to ignore the warnings and are only more than eager to take these wonder??? drugs. Especially when some doctors are more than willing to prescribe them.

Kickbacks. How tempting these are for medical professionals; far too often too tempting to resist. The result is that patients often take inappropriate drugs that may not benefit them or indeed may even prove harmful to them.

One of the most controversial regarding kickbacks is Ozempic. I personally have a friend who two years ago lost a substantial amount of weight. However she has found that not only has the weight crept back on when she discontinued the use of this drug, but other health issues have surfaced. This miracle drug has been around for approximately six years. Unfortunately, research regarding its usage, especially long-term, is just not readily available yet.

Seniors are especially vulnerable when it comes to the drugs which claim to improve memory. I personally know people who hungrily grab at the latest drug on the market in a futile attempt to improve their memory or to prevent more memory loss.

It is important to check with your pharmacist about how these wonder drugs will interact with the drugs you are already on for other health conditions. Your pharmacist is far more knowledgeable about these than your doctor. Seriously consider the potential side effects. They can prove to be deadly.

As for me, I will continue to zap through the commercials advertising all these products. These drugs have no place in my life.

Aug29

Not So Typical

Posted on by
Standard
Not So Typical

While this past week has been a busy one, it has also been not so typical. But I’ll start with the weather. Way too hot and way too muggy. It started early this year and looks like it’s still going to be around for a while. No rain in sight, not around here. But last night there were quite a few lightning strikes in other parts of the state that triggered wildfires.

The USA had issued a Level 4 Do Not Travel advisory a couple of weeks ago to certain states in Mexico, one of them being Sinaloa. It looks like this will be the second winter in a row that I will be unable to visit with my Mexican family in Culiacan due to all the cartel activity and violence. And I fear for the safety of my five nietos.

Here in Washington I met a woman when I was doing volunteer work. She is currently going through an ugly divorce and has decided to change her name. Okay, I get that. Once I’m legally divorced I also might do that. But I doubt that I’d turn it into a three day reclaiming celebration involving wineries and parties. And there’s also the matter of the invitation to attend the official hearing at the Court House in Wenatchee. Nope. That’s a little too bizarre, even for me.

Last night I heard from a long lost friend in Mazatlan asking me to transfer money to her Mexican bank account. When I lived in Mazatlan I had helped her out before with a few pesos from time to time. After all, we used to bake some awesome brownies together back then.

Here’s another not so typical. Linda and I went to Costco earlier in the week and I didn’t buy a single thing. No groceries. No clothes. Not even a hot dog. Very unusual.

I was sitting sipping coffee out on the patio at Weeds in Cashmere yesterday when I struck up a conversation with two women from Quincy. They had a beautiful, exceptionally well-behaved dog with them. I’d love to have a dog again. But then there is the matter of my constant travels between countries that pretty much rules out pet ownership.

The other day I went out to Lake Chelan with a friend from my writing group. Donna had grown up there decades ago and it was interesting seeing this area through her eyes. So many changes. Buildings torn down. High volume of tourist traffic. A street of condominiums where her grandparents’ house had once stood. Her childhood home gone. A very different view from the Lake Chelan that I’ve come to know in the past few years.

And now it’s Friday. I wonder if this will be a not so typical weekend too.

Jul15

July

Posted on by
Standard
July

“Be yourself; everyone else is taken.”

That’s one of my mantras, for both living and writing. So here goes….

So far it’s been a good month. I haven’t had any alerts blaring at me on my phone about wildfires or child abductions. And the month is halfway over.

Of course that doesn’t stop me from reading about wildfires in other areas of the state. And then there are the devastating flash floods and the vicious tornados attacking several states in the south, the Midwest and the east coast.

Aside from the high temperatures, it’s been pretty tranquil around here. Later this week I’ll be in Leavenworth up in the amphitheater enjoying another excellent production of The Sound of Music by Leavenworth Summer Theater. This is always one of the highlights of my summers here. And I’m thankful that it isn’t smokey this year. My stock of I-95s is still tucked away in my closet.

I’m planning on going up to Winthrop in a couple of weeks barring any wildfires. It’s a small town known for its Old West theme, including wooden boardwalks and saloon-style buildings. Quite a contrast to the amphitheater or the Bavarian Village of Leavenworth.

Pangborn Airport is slated to get new runways and will be closed for about a month beginning in September. I sure hope it will reopen by the time I need to fly back to Mexico in October. TSA at Sea-Tac is no fun.

Dead Dog In The Freezer. That’s the title of the piece I’ll be reading at writers group tomorrow.

What has an eye but cannot see? A needle.

Time to end this post. Thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of your day.

Jan22

Everything Is On Fire This Week

Posted on by
Standard
Everything Is On Fire This Week

It all began on Monday with the inauguration of Donald Trump. And that has got my Mexican neighbors all fired up, not to mention all the Canadians and residents of other countries around the world.

Then there’s the other fires – the wildfires in California. Today I watched videos of brushfires surrounding the Fashion Valley Mall and Mission Valley Mall in San Diego. Those were two of my favorite malls when I was there.

Friends are asking me if I’m researching flights back to Washington yet. A lot can happen between now and May. Will LAX even be there? The winds around LA are kicking up again.

And now I’ll add something that will fire up my American friends. I renewed my Mexican Costco membership for a mere 529 pesos ($25 US). And yes, I use it in the USA and Canada.

All this fire and it’s only Wednesday.

Feb29

February

Posted on by
Standard
February

February may be a short month but it’s been a busy one. And it’s a leap year which means that today is a leap day. And I have only one month left until I fly back up north.

I was tutoring Emiliano yesterday and he told me that his classroom at school is haunted. I had to double check the translator on that one to make sure I heard him right. He told me that at night the chairs and desks move around. He says the windows and lockers open up too. Apparently a few years ago a student fell down the stairs as well. An interesting legend.

Texas is burning up. The state has set a record for the largest wildfire. Gusting winds are in the forecast. I wonder if it will spread to any neighboring states.

On the plus side once again a partial government shutdown has been averted. That makes me happy. Air traffic controllers were set to walk off the job along with many other workers. But I also wonder how long it’s possible to put these last minute short term deals together before all hell breaks loose.

Most of my Zoom meetings are done now. While the programs and classes I’ve attended have been interesting, they have also consumed way too many weeknights this month. And then there’s the task of reorganizing my notes and putting them in files. I’m looking forward to having more free time now for writing.

I went our for breakfast with my friend Gloria yesterday to celebrate her birthday. We went to one of my favorite neighborhood cafes where they actually prepare chilaquiles that are not too picante. I find that as I’ve grown older my body doesn’t enjoy spicy foods the way it used to.

On the topic of foods, a new restaurant opened up close by. I had the most delicious ribeye tacos and the guacamole was also amazing. Can’t wait to go back and try other items on the menu.

Movie of the week I watched in Spanish was The Sixth Sense. It was a lot more challenging than the English version I saw many years ago. But it’s still a great movie.

Time to practice Spanish with Duolingo.

Saludos!

Aug22

Oh No! They’re Gone!

Posted on by
Standard
Oh No! They’re Gone!

In my last post I mentioned how the view of the mountains relaxes me and makes me feel at home. Well that was very short-lived. The smoke has rolled in and it’s time to get out the n95s again. The air is thick with smoke and the hills and mountains are now memories.

We went on a shopping marathon for a couple of hours today. Costco, Safeway and Happy Crop. Yes the groceries came first. But it was interesting to see who was at the pot shop today. No young people at all. Just us old people looking for comfort from the aches and pains as we age.

I’m looking forward to Tai Chi tomorrow. I really missed those classes when I was away in Canada. None of my friends up there are into that, although a couple are into walking. Right now it’s way too smoky out there to walk outside so I appreciated the walk through Costco today.

I dropped down a level in Duolingo. I just couldn’t find that half hour a day while I was away. It was more like only 5 to 10 minutes. But I’m back in there now and am determined to make it back up into the diamond league again this week.

There was an interesting article in my CNN newsfeed today about how airports have evolved into shopping malls with the advent of numerous restaurants and stores vying for space. Dallas got the award for the longest walk of just over two and a half miles to the gate. Of course security screening takes up an abundance of space as well. With the limited food options available on flights there is a demand for more restaurants. Air Canada…are you listening? I’m tired of your bottled water and juice when what I really crave is coffee. Starbucks is always a must when I’m in any airport.

I wonder if there are any deserts left in California today. Hurricane Hilary literally drenched the air and left quite a muddy mess. Floods and landslides are predicted for Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The weather is definitely getting nasty on both the Pacific and the Atlantic sides. And then the rest of North America is a smoky mess due to all the wildfires.

What will I be dodging when I head back to Mexico in October? Hmmmmmm…………..

You have outdone yourself with this limerick today, Alexa. Corniest one ever.

I once met a ninja who sings

When in through a window he swings

He picks air guitar

With his throwing star

But a concert is not what he brings.

Hope you’re having a marvelous Monday!

Jul24

Things I Didn’t Know

Posted on by
Standard
Things I Didn’t Know

Whenever I travel to new places, it’s amazing all the things I find out that I never knew before. The cultures all have their own unique twist and eastern Washington state has a few of its own that I encountered when I first came to Leavenworth in 2016. It’s 2023 and I’m still learning new things.

The other day I was having lunch at the senior center and the topic of bears came up. A retired taxidermist informed me that bears are attracted to clover. Someone else told me that the refuse containers are available with bear-proof lids. The problem is that when the trucks arrive it’s all automated and it can’t open these lids. The driver isn’t going to get out of the vehicle to open them either. That means that overnight bears often get into the garbage.

Speaking of garbage. People here have three separate bins. One is for the usual garbage, one is for recycling and one is for yard waste. Bins have to be rolled up to the street for collection. When I lived up the Icicle it was a walk up to the highway. Here in East Wenatchee it’s just at the end of our driveway, much more convenient.

Do you have to go to the bathroom? Then you have to go potty here. I haven’t heard that expression since I was toilet-training my kids back in the eighties.

Pest control is big business here. All kinds of unwanted creatures live in the mountains and forests here. And they often find their way into people’s homes or destroy the structures. And let’s not forget those big black flying ants or the creepy spiders either.

Speaking of forests, wildfires are a real danger here. Thunderstorms are dreaded as lightening often causes these fires when careless humans don’t. The strong winds don’t help either. I often get alarms on my phone but I’ve never had more than a level one alert so far this year.

With fire there’s smoke. Over the years I found myself sporing an n95 mask long before the arrival of Covid. There were days where you couldn’t see anything more than a block away. This is problematic for everyone but especially those with respiratory issues.

Washington state is one of the most expensive places in the USA to live and boasts the highest gas prices.

Washington was also one of the first states to legalize marijuana and there is an amazing variety of items available here. You can also trip over all the outlets or have it delivered by ordering online if you’re so inclined.

Then there’s the jargon. Attorney instead of lawyer. PCP instead of doctor. Physical therapist instead of physiotherapist. Etcetera.

Amazon Prime. A staple here. You can order anything and everything and have it delivered pronto. No need to go browsing from store to store in search of treasure. Nope! Those days are long gone.

There’s lots more but that’s it for today’s post. A week from today I’ll be traveling to Canada and still have lots to organize.

Have a marvelous Monday!

Jul21

Two Days

Posted on by
Standard
Two Days

Wednesday morning I attended the writers group at the Wenatchee Senior Center. I just love this group and will miss them when I’m away. I’ve met some fantastic people with amazing stories to tell about where they’ve lived and travelled. They have truly inspired me and I am so appreciative of their encouragement and support. Now if only I could take them to Canada next month and to Mexico in the fall.

I went into Leavenworth yesterday to see another production by Leavenworth Summer Theater. This time it was Cinderella and it’s one of the best I’ve seen yet. The characters were all so well-cast and the music was fabulous. This time the venue was the outdoor stage at the Fish Hatchery and thankfully the heat had subsided and it was quite pleasant being outside.

Last night I also had the opportunity to see the Space Station fly over and that was exciting for me. I’d never seen it before. The sky was so clear and the stars were all shining brightly. A big change from when the skies are smoke-filled from the usual wildfires at this time of year.

And speaking of wildfires, I received an alert on my phone a half hour ago that helicopters were dipping into the river near the bridge to get water to fight the fires. I even got the warning in Spanish on my other phone that still had my Mexican chip in it.

Today is Thursday and that means it’s Tai Chi day. This class is most beneficial for working on balance, and at this age I do have concerns when it comes to balance. Neuropathy merely complicates things and I am grateful for any type of exercise that may help when it comes to fall prevention.

According to the display in the car today, it was a balmy 106. I guess earlier in the week when we had one day of only 84 that was just a tease. I’m staying home in air-conditioned heaven tonight.

I have this crazy Barbie theme on my Alexa this week. Really corny jokes. Where is Barbie’s boyfriend from? Ken-tucky.