I have been rather lazy with posting lately, so will try to summarize the last few days.
Wednesday-Thursday: Don’t really remember too much unique about these days. Work, drive, eat, talk. Did do some additional work in the backyard. Two trees came down last year. Now 90% of the grass has been taken up. (It wasn’t really grass, it was a mixture of moss, weeds and a smattering of grass.) What we (good friend Doug mostly) have discovered, is that the roots of the large tree now gone are very, very close to the surface. To reinvigorate the soil with amendments and roto tilling really requires getting these roots out. They are also big. They have been exposed, but getting them out is a different matter entirely. I may call the tree guy to see if his stump grinder can take care of them as well. I would like to get the new lawn installed before the winter rains hit. The edge planting areas can wait, but a winter to establish roots would be good. My good growing friend at work says at this point in the season we should be thinking sod not seed. It will soon be too cold for the seed to really take and we would just have to repeat in the spring.
Friday: Blood sucking – twice. Two studies, completely separate. They both want blood draws, and I did schedule them sort of back to back to minimize time away from work. The first is for the long term aging/memory study that I have been in for 10 years roughly. I give blood fairly regularly and go to the North Seattle center or a church near work. This study draw was at the downtown Puget Sound Blood Center. Even though it was only a small draw they said I could have coffee, drinks, snacks afterwards (they had asked me to not eat or drink other than water before the draw). Since I had more than an hour before my next appointment, I went to their sitting area. They have a machine that grinds and brews Starbucks coffee by the cup. It was excellent. I may have to change my donation site.
The second draw was for a new study – for the H1N1 vaccine. If I pass this initial screening I will be given the vaccine, or rather one of 5 levels of the vaccine. I will find out on Monday probably.
Took a walk in the evening to the Wallingford Wurst festival. Carl enjoyed a white wurst with sauerkraut. We had sausage at work earlier, so I just enjoyed the crowd and ambiance. This festival is a fundraiser for a local catholic school. One of Carl’s kids is going to preschool there this year. It is a favorite of mine, not only for the food but for the truly local draw and effort.
Today: Planning to take a walk. To another annual local food event, the St. Demetrios Greek Festival. This is a longer walk, and we usually drive. But it is sunny today and a long walk will be a good way to balance the food intake. Walk is done, about 5.5 miles total, modest length. [But the last mile is all uphill, so tired legs at the end.] Midpoint food report. Gyros (mmmm), Spanakopita (spinach & cheese in phillo pastry), Tiropita (feta cheese baked in phillo pastry, Loukoumathes (fried pastry with honey & cinnamon)[Carl called these Elephant ba**s, instead of Elephant Ears], and Greek coffee.
Oh – Rey, hope you are feeling better.
Ashlan – hope school is going well. And here is a comic you should really enjoy given this summer (look for 9/26/09 if it comes up with a different date)
Raincharm's Weblog 
Leave a comment