I had the best intentions last night. I was going to go to bed at a reasonable hour so I could get up at 5:30 am and finish that mowing. In addition to finishing the loop, I wanted to get any knapweed so it wouldn’t go to see while I was gone. And I did go to bed at a reasonable hour. I was in bed by 9:15, ready for sleep. But sleep would not come. I was awake, conscious of my tummy hurting and unable to let my mind settle. I got out of bed after a while and read on the couch. Then back to bed and read a bit there before finally getting to sleep.
That would have been a great excuse to ignore the 5:30 am alarm, but I chose to get up and go check the mail. I hadn’t checked it much last week, but there was only one piece in the box. Junk. Then I got to mowing. It was a cloudy morning, with a bit of rain sprinkling down, but not enough to wet me. I didn’t quite finish the last section, so I decided to mow again this evening.
I showered and ate breakfast, and then got ready for work. Technically, today was a day off, courtesy of the governor, in celebration of America 250. But I had already planned on taking off 7/8 through 7/17, so I was able to flex this holiday by working today instead. That allowed me to clear the decks of some important work that I needed to get done before going on vacation. I had a really productive day. It’s amazing what you can accomplish when there’s no one who needs anything all day.
After work and dinner, I went back out for the next mow. I got the last section done, and attacked the knapweed by the north side of the house. When the mower ran out of gas, I got the trimmer out to trim under the weather station. And I discovered while trimming where the wasps had decided to nest: inside the weather station. I’ll need to spray them tomorrow morning. The station isn’t functional anymore. I really ought to take it down, but I don’t have the heart to do it quite yet. Maybe next time my dad comes out.
After trimming, I tried to gather up as much of the knapweed that I’d mowed as possible. Not the most efficient way to do things, but I figure every bit that I picked up would be a bit less knapweed next year. I’m going to try and figure out how to get rid of it, and be more aware of it next season, because it’s a noxious weed. Plus it’s hard on the mower. Very tough stalks. The “heavy duty” garbage bags that I’d bought mostly because they didn’t say that they were scented (they are scented), were no match for the knapweed. Even double bagged, there are holes. I’ll have to take those to the transfer station next time I go, which will probably be the 17th. Maybe the 15th if I want to show my nieces the transfer station.
Now I’m exhausted. I got a call from my doctor’s office today. My blood draw showed higher cholesterol than last year (though they only gave me the whole number, not the breakdown), and anemia. They want to do another draw to test iron levels. Thankfully, that will NOT be a fasting blood draw, so I’ll be able to do it on my way to Boise on Wednesday without leaving early. I had a bout of anxiety after getting that news. I wasn’t anemic on May 7 when I last donated blood, so something has changed between then and now, and I don’t think it’s dietary. I suspect I may have a bleeding ulcer, based on the tummy pain I’ve been having, and the stress and anxiety that I’ve been going through as I approach the 2nd anniversary of Ambrose’s death.
“Heavy Duty,” right.
