Monday, 14 March 2016
Ilwaco Post Office
Allan picked up the mail even before I woke up, to save time.
Today I woke up early (for me), just a bit stressed about going to Astoria for medical tests.
I took a quick walk around part of the garden in the sunshine.
at home
Columbia Memorial Hospital, Astoria
And then we were off to the Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria for an MRI related to some weird dizziness symptoms.  I was surprised that among the many questions about possible sources of metal in one’s body was “Do you have a tattoo?”  (No.) I found the 25 minute long MRI surprisingly easy, with no claustrophobia, lots of noise that reminded me of 80s industrial music (which I like), and when the tube shook and the noise was loud I felt like I was on a rocket blasting off into space.  If it were a 25¢ fun ride, I might do it again.  It costs more than that, though.
No results are on offer yet for that and the carotid artery ultrasound which followed, in another building.  I honestly thought the ultrasound fellow would tell me the results as he went along.  That was not to be (disappointingly, as I had been telling myself that I would know something by now). The ultrasound fellow was friendly and educational with explanations about how circulation in the body works.He explained that when I heard a sound like a wind and rain storm, low and ominous, that was just the wand slipping over a bit to pick of the sound of the jugular vein instead of the carotid.  He did say that the sound of a blocked carotid artery is not the whoosh whoosh whoosh sound that I heard most of the time during the scan,  but instead is a high pitched sound like when you kink a garden hose.  I then listened hard for a sound like that and did not hear one.  He joked, “I could change the audio settings and really play with your mind” but he did not.  All this kept me well amused (seriously).
Afterwards, Allan and I walked down several corridors, guided by a helpful staff member, and found the healing garden that I recalled from a hospital visit in 2006.
In the way, the walls are enlivened with murals and historic photos that fit in well with the blogging I’ve been doing with my grandma’s old photos. Â In fact, it felt rather cosmic, as she worked in a lumber mill during her first few years in Seattle (around 1918-18).
Below: My Great Aunt Lucy (Aunt Lou) and my grandma, Gladys Walker, at the lumber mill during WWI.
But back to the hospital healing garden:
It is in a courtyard, facing south, with the building on three sides and a fence on the street side.
We all know by now that I loathe salal in a garden, and here is why:
Except for the pushy, rude salal, the courtyard is a serene and pleasant place.
On the way back to the parking garage of the first building, we were caught in an intense hail storm. Â I was afraid I would slip and hurt my knee…and that will be the topic of a medical appointment next week (a knee specialist, not a phobia psychologist).
Fulio’s Pastaria
We had a late lunch at Fulio’s Pastaria, one of our favourite Astoria restaurants.
Because of the miserable afternoon weather, the soup had been a good seller today.
My favourite dish used to be an occasional special; it is now a permanent fixture, and so delicious, even though I do not like squash on its own.
Before we left, our consummately knowledgeable young server told us a little bit about the philosophy of Fulio’s ( “fool”): that restaurateur and chef Peter Roscoe believes that a restaurant is like a circus act, juggling the food, the drinks, the amount of patrons, the amount of food to order, and it can either be like the Cirque du Soleil or like Barnum and Bailey’s.  I said that Fulio’s is always like the Cirque du Soleil.  Restaurants fascinate me, with the intricacies of how much food to order vs. how many diners might arrive for a meal.  I like to read restaurant memoirs and novels to try to understand how they work.  (The best I’ve read lately, and my favourite novel of last year, is Bread and Butter by Michelle Wildgen.)
shopping
I was too tired, and the weather too cold and windy, for a further walk around downtown Astoria.  As we approached the bridge to Washington State, I was sure we would turn onto the on ramp, and then we drove on south because Allan expected to shop at Costco and Fred Meyer stores.  Oh well! I found some lilies at Costco that are ones I do not have.
When we arrived at Fred Meyer, someone had thrown out bird seed next to the parking lot and drawn a large crowd.
When we pulled closer, all the big birds flew away, soon to be replaced by a selection of little brown birds.
I indulged myself with some rare household purchases at Fred Meyer: purple sheets and some more clothes hangers. Â Of course, I checked the plant section and bought just one small perennial. Â I gazed disapprovingly upon the sight of cosmos, petunias, and other tender annuals already on offer. Â If the nights are cold, the foliage will get a purple tone and the growth will be stunted.
I used to not plant annuals out till Mother’s Day. Â Climate change may let me push that earlier this year….but not this early.
The plant purchases: Â Lilies Emani, Medusa, Dizzy, and Cobra, none of which I have, and one purple aubretia because it reminded my of my grandmother’s rockery garden.
At home, I thought I would tidy up some of the Grandma scrapbooks and photo albums and documents piled on many surfaces in the living room.  Or, thought I, I could catch up on my favourite blog. Instead, I just sat for over an hour before rousing myself to write this (and I think Allan napped).
My mother also went to the doctor on this day 19 years ago.
Ginger’s Garden Diaries
from my mother’s garden diaries of two decades ago
1997 (age 72):
March 14:  Had physical.  All lab tests are ok.  The glucuse was 135—normal is 115!  Dr E said I was almost perfect and maybe can stop taking the Tolazimide in a couple of months.  He said I’m healthy but should eat better.
Finished planting tomatoes (4o varieties) and 5 peppers. Â Planted some of the old ’61 tomato seeds in a 50 cell tray.
1998 (age 73):
March 14: Â Noon to 4:45 Â Another good day’s work! Â I worked on getting the Dutch Gardens dahlia bulbs in low boxes and peat moss. Â Three times I thought I was finished and then found another box with more bulbs. Â I even found some DG perennials I had missed yesterday, then after I had everything put away I found a box with some bulbs I evidently overlooked last fall. Â I called Ron the tiller man. Â He will come on April 11.
A good nap was the very best thing at the end of such a heavy day….but thank you for the compliment. Fingers still crossed.
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I love healing gardens in hospitals. I must check out if our hospital has one now 😃
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