Thursday, 25 August 2016
My hope is always to not work in such hot weather. Unfortunately, the schedule is not all that flexible and plants needed watering today. At least watering is the coolest job available.Long Beach
My mission was for us to get the planters watered before my dental appointment. Some folks would have started earlier. That does not work well for night owls.Those tables are usually full at summer lunch time. Today, extreme heat had driven most everyone to the nearby beach. I have never seen a quieter midsummer day in town. Twice, a regular walker asked me to fill his baseball cap with water and then plopped it right onto his head.
Cathy from Captain Bob’s Chowder gifted us with two bottles of icy cold water…gulped down gratefully.
We just had time to groom the welcome sign before my appointment.
Knee stuff follows (skip ahead to next photo for gardening):
I disappeared to the dentist office (just south of downtown) while Allan kept working. After X rays and some unpleasant sharp poking all along my gum line, I found that I had almost waited too long to schedule all that needs to be done before prospective knee replacement in November. To the tune of over $1200, I will get two sessions of heavy duty cleaning done…without anesthesia because I was only able to get timely appointments for days the dentist is not there. Thus is procrastination punished. I had learned from Denny at Klipsan Beach Cottages that any sort of infection can seek out and destroy one’s new knee. What??? Shocking and disturbing news for a hypochondriac like me. So a lot of preventive care has to be done, and fast. Fortunately, a couple of minor fillings will be done by the dentist, with anesthesia.
Today I learned that one can be genetically prone to gum problems. My mother had such problems and I now think maybe that is why she never got a knee replacement for her own limping around. When I found myself hoping the dentist would say I was not a good candidate, I realized how much I do NOT want to go through with the knee replacement before retirement! Oh dear. (Most folks I know who have had knee replacement done are so happy…and most were retired, or with pots more money than me, so did not have to worry about missing work if anything goes wrong.) I have a lot to think about in order to make the right decision for me.
I feel philosophical about the dentistry expense. I wonder if my UK friends have to pay out of pocket for dentistry. It is not covered by most medical insurance here (except for children). In fact, I can guarantee that money rather than fear is the main reason poor and working class people here put off dental care.
The art in the dental exam and x ray room was pleasingly fantasy-geeky.
When I asked to photograph it for the pleasure of my geeky friends, the dental tech told me her son (or son in law) is the artist, and it is for a book series called The Sundering.With the dental appointment over and three more looming in September, I called Allan and he retrieved me to go back to work.
Here is what he had accomplished while I was in the dental chair:
Working together again, we bucket watered the Bolstad beach approach planters (with Allan doing the heavy lifting). The planters looks pitifully parched, while the rugosa roses have held up well with no supplemental water.
After hose watering the Sid Snyder approach planters, I was able to go home and water in my own garden while Allan watered the Ilwaco planters with the water trailer.
at home
The Cove Restaurant
We had our weekly meeting of the North Beach Garden Gang with Dave and Melissa of Sea Star Gardening.
Heat addled brains were lucky to remember to take just those two dinner photos. Now we will have our three day weekend, with Friday predicted to be hot again, and then a blissful beachy cooldown on Saturday.
1997 (age 73):
August 25: 1:30-5:45 w/time out to visit with Don. Spent the time in the shop. Soon after I started the sun came out and I wanted to weed but I stayed in. I moved all the Robert boxes [tools and so forth of my dad’s that she was saving for my spouse to take] and stuff to the back of the shop. [It was a substantial two room building.] I moved the cupboard from the end of the train table to next to the tall paint cupboard on E side. That seemed to make the room larger. Don came out at 2:30. I look forward to his visits.
1998 (age 74):
August 25: I had to go to the store as I was out of milk and cereal. Had errands to run. By the time I got home it was too late to work outside so I didn’t.
Gardening should be outlawed above 80 degrees, don’t you think?
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I do agree!
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We don’t have to pay for dental checks but we do have to pay for any work that is done. It is reasonably priced so I assume that it is subsided to some extent.
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Thanks for the info, Mr T!
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Good luck with the dental work and also with your knee!
As for me, i can only garden in the early morning…cannot take the heat, for sure!
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Thanks!! I’m glad such heat is rare here.
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