Marty's Travels

My house has wheels

Back into the hospital

I go in on Wednesday for an angioplasty, the next logical step after the results from the nuclear test came in. The extent of my problem seems to be much confined, not a disaster at all. It is an overnight thing, though. I'll leave my truck at the ferry terminal on this side, and Kate will take me from the ferry to the hospital. Meanwhile, Dave and Kathy are staying on Whidbey at the Naval base, which has a very nice RV park. So I'm walking on...

Pot: Washington law changes

The Washington legislature has a long ways to go to clean up the mess with the marijuana laws they themselves created. They made a few advances over the weekend. The tax structure has been changed, amounting to a modest reduction for the consumer. It was 25% on the grower, 25% on the processor, and 25% on the retailer. Now it's just 37% at the retail level. Consumers will see all the taxes on their receipt. (Remember WA has a 10% sales tax rate...

It’s hot here

In the 80's maybe the 90's this weekend. This is astoundingly unusual this time of year. Normal is 58, overcast, with drizzle and showers. Of course, over in Eastern Washington it will be dry and 107, again a tad unusual this time of year. It's Gay Pride weekend in Seattle, a rather monstrous party made even more celebratory with the supreme court decision. My daughter and her family are over on the peninsula to camp in the Olympics, and to see...

Driving while talking on cell phone

That's illegal in Washington. I've sat at the light at WA19 and WA20 watching car after car make a left in front of me while every other driver was on the phone. I answered the phone while driving on WA20, and was talking when I myself made that left turn today. It was my cardiologist calling, I have an appointment tomorrow with him. They said a meeting had come up and they need to reschedule me. Instead of 1:45, they wanted 4:00. It was with...

Where I am

The Olympic peninsula is pretty far out there when it comes to the continental US. In fifteen minutes I can go from farmland to national park to national wilderness. In another 30 minutes I could be in a place that no human has trod. A fire has broken out in the Olympic wilderness. Some say it started a month ago, we just didn't notice it until now. They'd like to put it out, but the terrain is so nasty it's impossible to get anything in there....

Fresh produce

Over the last few years my favorite BBQ places in the area closed down leaving me with just one. Likewise, several produce stands also closed down, making me go further and further to find, for example, Yakima fruit. The Central Market in Poulsbo does well in stocking their displays, but the prices are high. A bit down the road in Poulsbo is a stand that sells Yakima fresh at good prices, but the selection is thin. Today I discovered that if you...

Pot: A few items

The Denver Post looked at current cannabis prices compared to a year ago. They report that eighths (an eighth ounce, 3.5 grams, a common retail sales quantity) are selling for $30-$45. Washington stores (by my observation) are selling eighths for $35-$60. Washington taxes are much higher, but the quantity of product is now keeping prices low in Washington. In Vancouver, the stores are keeping their prices high because they serve the Portland...

I’m radioactive

I had the "nuclear" test done today that I've been waiting for, but results are a week away. For the next three days I'm "visible" to anything looking for radioactivity so I have a note to show whoever needs to know. I figured this meant airports, but they said since I ride the ferries I'll need the note. The test itself was rather bizarre, involving a drug that put my body under severe stress for a few minutes. As I sat in the chair, I was...

Feeling better

Since I quit the statin last Thursday, I woke up this morning feeling better than I have in two months. I had no concept what that stuff was doing to me, physically and mentally. I have no doubt that stuff can add years to one's life, but at a cost that I really don't want to pay. I have another week or so to make a decision to go back. My friend Gracie bought a lot in the park today. She surprised me by showing up, and now she's talking about...

Meet the cardiologist

He's a good guy and today he got things moving along for my medical problems. He was nice enough to suggest laying off the statin for a while, then trying another after a few weeks. The side effects from Lipitor are terrible, and I'm looking forward to recovering from them. I was slowly losing almost all body functions with that crap. I had him verify that while the statin does something (reduce bad cholesterol), it's not clear where cholesterol...

The Elwha River

The National Park Service put the finishing touch on the dam removal project and opened up an interpretive exhibit and overlook on the remnants of the lower dam. It's easy to get to, but those that don't like heights might be uncomfortable. It's well worth the look. The most interesting view is that of the lake bed becoming a river valley again. Vegetation is growing back fast and it will only be 5 or 6 years until there's nothing remarkable to...

Bikes and doctors

I came across a bike suitable to replace my old one. A single-speed Murray obviously dragged out of the woods somewhere, but workable after I swap a few parts. $10 and a day's work and I was good to go. My criteria for a bike is the same as it was: serve for one Burning Man and after that it can be trashed. My last one lasted for 4 BMs over 5 years. I picked another hobby to engage in, the field of cardio-vascular medicine. Specifically finding...