Events

Vivian and I had thanksgiving at our place this year. The day before Jeanette called to say she was ill and couldn't come, so Nick brought Mike's wife, Tiara up with him. Mike got to the condo a couple minutes before Nick, Amanda and Tiara came in, then Mike's other Mom, Ann came and finally our friend Tommie. We had a lovely dinner, minus the pumpkin pies Mom was going to bring. Actually, Melody had used the pumpkin pie filling Mom had gotten for pie the week before to feed the mobs of us at Jeanette's.

Vivian baked a beef briskett 24 hours, adding an apple butter glaze during the last part of the baking process. It was tender and tasty. She also cooked a turkey breast and two drumsticks for the traditionalists amongst us. Que did an experiment that turned out well, baked squash with quince. In addition, I cooked my usual twice baked potatoes and green beans with mushrooms and onions. Nick and Ann both brought apple pies and Michael (via Ann) brought the rolls, white, whole grain and the ever popular Hawaiian ones.

We all ate too much, took home a lot of leftovers and talked and talked. Later in the evening, some of us played the games Munchkins and Scategories. Tommie left to go home to her kitties and the rest of us went to bed for a good night's sleep.

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Update - Mom has moved to Long Beach, CA
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I just realized what a terrible job I've been doing keeping up on the blog since finishing the RV Trip! So sorry. Anyway, Mom was feeling so down after her stroke there just didn't seem to be any way to cheer her up. It was cold and rainy one day and she refused to get out of bed, so I asked her if she'd rather move to LA where my brother Charlie had recently moved (Long beach actually). She was practically up and packing befoe we had a chance to discuss it! So a few days later I drove her down in the RV. She seems to be quite settled in, when I called her today she had just gotten out of the pool! So hope the sunshine helps cheer her up some, the beach probably doesn't hurt much either...

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As strokes go, this one wasn't too bad. She has some blurred vision, speach, and is weak, but none of the serious difficulties one often hears about with strokes. Still, it's a blow to one's confidence and independence (can't drive with the vision thing).

She had an occupational therapy and physical therapy assessement last Tuesday and did rather well overall. The occupational therapist says only one or two more appointments, mostly working on her vision and sense of touch. The physical therapist suggests 5 to 8 weeks, mostly to improve her leg strength and balance, after which she should be better off then before the stroke.

Art, Melody, Que, Vivian, Nick and Amenda, Michael Brown and Tiara all came by last weekend and helped build a walkway to the neighbors driveway and remodel her bathroom, making it easier to get in and out of the tub. She wanted very much to stay in her own apartment downstairs, but some of the doctors and nurses were concerned about the stairs. Since the neighbors garage is on the lower level, their driveway goes right down about level with her apartment, so there was only about 9 feet of lawn to traverse for her to be able to walk to the car (neighbor gave us permission to use the driveway), now replaced with a nice walkway. Since then, the physical therapist has OK'd her use of the stairs (even suggested it might help with her leg strength), but it will be nice to have the walkway for when she doesn't feel like using the stairs.

I suspect it's going to be very hard for her to not be able to drive. We'll just take it one day at a time and see where it takes us. Life takes it's turns and bumps and we just have to adjust.

You might find the following web booklet of interest. I have printed it out and will be using it as a resource here at home, along with some other research.

http://www.stroke.org/site/DocServer/hope_full.pdf?docID=921

One of the symptoms Mom complains about is that she occasionally has difficulty saying what she wants. This turns out to be a very common side affect of strokes and is a condition called "Aphasia", although her case is relatively mild. This also turns out to be one area where treatment can be quite successful! Mom's occupational therapist (OT) is considering recommending a speach therapist, but in the meantime the MayoClinic web site has information specifically to help family assist with Aphasia recovery.

When you are with Mom or communicating with her, please consider the following suggestions from Mayo Clinic:

- Simplify your sentences and slow down your pace.
- Allow the person time to talk.
- Don't finish sentences or correct errors.
- Keep conversations focused on one topic at a time.
- Reduce distracting noise in the environment.
- Keep paper and pencils or pens readily available.
- Write a key word or short sentence to help explain something.
- Help the person with aphasia create a book of words, pictures or photos to assist with conversation.
- Use drawings or gestures when you aren't understood.
- Involve the person with aphasia in conversations as much as possible.
- Check for comprehension or summarize what you've discussed

Mom may not need the paper, pencils and booklets as much as her case is so mild, but most of these suggestions wouldn't hurt us whether or not one's communications skills are impaired!

9/11/08 Robert & Kathy live very close to the project path of the eye, maybe will be on the 'dirty north side'. Per Madeline, the evacuated this morning to beat the rush. They will be staying with family in Arkansas, then maybe also visit James in Tennessee. They have a brick home, so wind damage may be somewhat limited (lots of tree's however). Flooding could be serious however, they live in a very low lying area close to the coast.

Becky & Family live in San Antonio, which is farther inland and is forecasted to get maybe 60 mph winds. Bad, but more tropical storm then hurricane. Becky says her hospital has taken in some of the patients evacuated from Galvaston and she's been instructed to keep an overnight bag at the hospital. Danny & Connie are now living in Austin, so are out of the direct path of the storm, but may still have kids in Corpus Christi. Becky thinks they have all evacuated to Austin.

This is all I know so far, hopefully others can post updates or more accurate info as it develops.

Sunday afternoon, Vivian and I went to Discovery Park for the Pow Wow. It actually runs from Friday to Sunday. Many of the participants camp there or stay in RVs. It is held at the Daybreak Star center in Discovery Park, overlooking the Sound. There is a large grass circle above the center for Pow Wows. There were Indians from all over at the pow wow, and many styles of dancing and drumming. We ran into several friends there, ate Indian food, bought from Indian craftmakers and watched the dancing. There was dancing all day long, many ages and styles. I noticed that some of the outfits were pretty traditional, with intricate beading, fur,feathers and leather details, and traditional colors. Others were almost blindingly neon and bright. They also tended to have more fabric than leather.
Some of the beading was in bright colors, but not the neon stlye. Some of the neon costumes were very intricately sown.

I did find out what to do with my bison jawbones. There were several decorated bison jawbones for sale. They were painted and wound with leather for hanging as decorations. One woman I have met at various events told me her people have always boiled the bones in sea salt water to get the meat off and bleach them. Insects ate the meat off my bones, but I will see about getting a large old pot to boil them in, maybe when Vivian isn't home so she isn't bothered by any smell that may happen. Another guy told me he used peroxide to bleach the bones. I think I will try sea salt water first.

Vivian got a lovely print from an artist. She signed it. We are getting it matted and framed. I got a tile of a northwest style whale, a copper coin pendant of a spindle whorle. Spindles were used to prepare yarn, mainly mountain goat wool. The whorles (selseltel) were joined with spindles. I also got a hoodie with the picture of a dancing bear. It has bear paw prints up the sleeves. We also got gifts for various people.

I will try to download some pix soon

7/12/08, 12:20 PM - Just heard from Art, he and Melody were able to slip past the Fire Crews and get home today and found everything is fine. Steven's home is fine, there was some brush burned on his property, but it didn't harm the structures. Jim has heard from a neighbor that his home & shop also are fine, again some burning around the edges. Looks like the fire that went through Art & Steven's neighborhood was mostly a slow moving brush & grass fire and most of the homes/structures have been saved! Art says there are some badly burned tree's he can see on his neighbor's property. They are still waiting to learn about other friends and relatives, but this is great news - the best possible for us to expect based on what we've been seeing. He expects the hospital to remain closed for several more days, so he and Melody are going around feeding/watering neighbor's chickens etc and looking for ways to help get back to normal...

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7/11/08, 1:30 PM - Winds weren't as bad as expected and there isn't much news out of Chico, however the newest map of the fire boundary shows it now covers most of the Granite Ridge Rd area, including Art & Steven's homes. I just got off the phone with Art and they haven't heard anything for sure, it's possible homes survived, but both of their properties are now within the burn area. If he learns anything more, he said he'll call.

In the map, the city of Paradise is the green area on the left. It is separated from Granite Ridge (where Art's place is) by a deep canyon where the west branch of the Feather River flows. The Red area is where the fire is now or has burned. I have drawn in the location of Art's and Steven's properties.

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7/10/08, 11:30 AM - The Chico Enterprise Record just updated the fire map, it now shows that the fire has crossed the intersection of Granite Ridge Rd and Jordan Hill Road and appears to be on the west side of Art's property line, the downhill side (Ugh!). I called Art, he hasn't heard anything yet either about whether they are still trying to hold the line there or have had to abandon. The Feather River Hospital is still closed today, so he and Melody are off (on call I suppose). He has registered with the Red Cross. Not as rosy as I'd hoped.

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7/10/08, 8:30 AM - Cautious good news - the winds did not pick up last night and the firefighters were able to hold the lines, so at least things didn't seem to get any worse. The news conference this morning specifically mentioned that they were able to hold the line established at Granite Ridge Rd, so Arts & Stevens places are probably still OK. We are not as optimistic about Jim's place however. They have been bringing in additional fire crews from all over - as of this morning, there are 2,886 firefighters working this fire (that's a serious fire! Penny heard some were brought in from as far away as from Delaware!). Maybe they can finally get this fire contained. Hopefully this is the worst of the crises.

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7/9/08, 7 PM - Just got off the phone with Art. The most important thing he wants everyone to know is that everyone is fine. Jim's house could very well be lost but no one knows for sure. Art has text messaged the fire crew hunkered down at his house and was told they had a very difficult night, but have kept the fire at bay so far. Winds are forecasted to pick up tonight, so it will be another difficult night. He says the fire has crossed the west branch of the Feather River in spots, but they are holding the line for the most part. The hospital is completely closed, even staff are off, however he and Melody are on call in case somebody bring someone in. Jim's hospital was also evacuated, but he was called in to work in Chico where the patients were transported. Art, Melody, Jim, Jeremy & Amanda have been staying at Jessica's apartment in Chico, but Jeremy and Amanda will be moving in with her relatives shortly. Alice & David are staying with Melody's folks. I think Steven & his family are staying at his apartment south of Sacramento near where he works. It looks really, really bad for property but the people are all fine, which is what's really important anyway.

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7/9/08, 10 AM - Haven't heard from Art yet but wanted to let you know the latest per the news media. It looks like the fire is still about 1/2 mile from Art & Stevens places, Jim's is still in the thick of things and about 50 homes have been lost in that area (don't know about his). The fire has not jumped the Feather River into Paradise yet, but they have closed the ER room at the Feather River Hospital, again as a precaution - Staff is still on duty however, so Art and or Melody may be working there today. For the most part, the winds stayed subdued last night which enabled the fire crews to hold the lines. Forecast is for 115 F temperatures today (very bad), it mostly depends on the winds, if they stay down - everybody stands a chance, otherwise more homes will probably be lost.

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7/8 11 PM - Fire is now quite close to Art's house. At least 5 homes have been burned in the vacinity of Jim & Alice's home, others spared - not sure the status of theirs. Fire seems to be moving towards Art & Melody's.

Map of Fire

Art and Melody's place is just below the hand shape approaching the green area on the left (Paradise).
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Everyone in the family is fine and has other places to stay.

Art & Melody are staying in Chico with Jessica. They were not home last night when the police ordered everyone to get out - but my nephew Jeremy and his girlfriend Amanda were at the house. They were able to get some of the important papers and the pets out with them.

This fire has been a threat for the last couple of weeks, so I imagine most folks had some sort of evacuation plan. Art said he and Melody have been clearing underbrush from their property for the past week or so to try to help.

There is a fire crew stationed on their property that has been using a bulldozer to clear a fire line around it, so they're doing all they can to save Art's place. Art thinks the fire is about 2 miles away, but in that area a fire can cover 2 miles very easily (they live on the top of a ridge, with lots of tree's and brush).

Of course, most folks who live out there have no fire insurance, including Art & Melody - it's kind of a rural, offbeat community and is 'off the grid', so nobody can get mortgages (and probably not insurance either).

All we can do now is wait and hope for the best.