My Cousin Aleda

First, don't forget to turn your clocks back one hour, either before you go to bed on Saturday night (my preference), or as soon as you get up Sunday morning. It's "Fall Back" time!

   If my brain seems a lot more scattered than usual, please forgive me. I just learned that my first cousin has metastatic cancer. Our mothers were sisters. Both of our maternal grandparents died from cancer; and both of my cousin's parents died from cancer. Aleda is younger than me; she has a wonderful husband; she has children; and she has grandchildren. After she married Barry, she returned to school and worked doggedly for her law degree; she specializes in representing women and children, and has done a great deal of work without pay in Third World countries, fighting for womens' rights. Her husband, Barry Frishman, gives tours around Chincoteague and Assateague, teaching tourists about marine, marsh, and island ecology. The only thing they own is Barry's boat (Captain Barry's Back Bay Tours); they rent a mobile home and a friend has loaned them a vehicle to drive. Aleda and Barry traveled to Haiti after the last earthquake, and have been spending their time shuttling between the two islands. Barry is a volunteer worker who digs and builds fresh water wells for all those who need them - in Haiti, and in the Third World countries he visits with Aleda. Barry is also an American Red Cross volunteer, and Emergency Team worker. Before returning to the States this past spring, Aleda always felt tired and achey (on top of her severe asthma). After tons of testing, it was found she had all sorts of internal parasites; but she kept having weird reactions to the medications that were supposed to cure her... More and more tests. A PET scan finally turned up a mass in her lymph glands. She was scheduled for a biopsy early last month, but another mass was found that encircles a major nerve and two arteries - they are now going to do the biopsy on November 9, a week from today. Then she'll have meetings with the Docs the day after Thanksgiving... I am upset and greatly worried.

Aleda ("Missy") and Barry Frishman on Chincoteague

Aleda; Debby; A Dozen Wildfires

Cousin Aleda is back at home on Chincoteague Island, but is requesting that she have no visitors. This is from her latest Facebook Posting: the doctors said, "Double pneumonia, parasite infestation, bacteria infection, ulcers, and much more testing to see what else is causing all my symptoms." Docs also said: "You're lucky, 1 in 20 people with your condition dies here in the states." I was like WOW. Then he continued, "1 in 4 die with the combination of illnesses you have, you are a very lucky girl."  Aleda, Barry and the entire family are very lucky and blessed that she is still with us.
  We were in triple digits again yesterday, with 4% humidity, and are expecting the same again today.  I see that Tropical Storm Debby (not a Hurricane, like I wrote yesterday) is dumping large amounts of rainfall along the west coast of Florida - I'd love to have that rain here!

This photo is of the Mayor of Cedar Key standing on top of a floating dock that broke loose from the fishing pier yesterday....
   The kits and I have been trying to stay cool and laid back...  I've read all my library books and need more.  We did have a thunderstorm around 7:30 last night, and it blew a transformer nearby, causing Nedi to hide under the bed for two hours.  Lovey just kept following me around and talking, as usual.  Power was out, but even after the rain, we only had 16% humidity.  And I was pretty bummed out to read that Alex Trebek, my favorite TV show host, had had a mild heart attack on Saturday, as well.
   There are now 12 wildfires burning in the state - two, the Springer fire near Lake George and the Estes Park (Woodland Heights) fire, are completely contained, and should not be able to spread any further.  The High Park fire burned another 57 homes yesterday, and has now burned over 130 square miles of land.  There is a wildfire out in the eastern plains, burning along County Road 102.  Then there is the cluster of fires in southwest Colorado - the Little San fire has burned over 21,600 acres, the Weber fire has burned over 6,800 acres, and the Stateline fire is completely out of control.  The Waldo Canyon fire  is out of control; the Treasure fire near Leadville is 25% contained.  Then there is the Sunrise Mine, Trout Creek, and one other fire...  And, of course, there is extreme heat, low humidity, and winds expected around 40 mph for most of the afternoon.
  I see my therapist today and get to tell her how upset Aleda's illness has made me - dredging up all the things that happened with Mom, Aunt Ruth, etc.  Thank goodness this appointment was made long ago - I had no idea I'd need it now!
   And Black Caviar, the wonderful racing mare from Australia, might be retired after her win on Saturday.  She tore muscles in her back during the race, and was "coasting" home because the jockey had misjudged the finish line - then she was put back into a hard run for a couple of strides just before the real finish line.  However, her jockey said that she just didn't feel like her normal self during the first half of the race - normally she's pulling at the reins, wanting to run harder, and on Saturday, she was content just to do what the jockey asked of her.

Eight Wildfires and a Hurricane

It is still hot - we hit 102 again yesterday, and expect the same for the next three days.  It's also windy in the afternoon - especially up in the hills and down in the canyons, where most of the fires are located.  I can not thank all of the fire fighters enough for all that they do throughout our state - it's such an overwhelming job!
   Hurricane Debby is cuddling with the Gulf Coast, and a warning is up from the Mississippi-Alabama state lines over to the Ochlockonee River on the Florida panhandle.  Good luck to those folks!  I'd love to get the approximately 10 inches of rain that forecasters are predicting for that area...
   There are now eight wildfires burning in Colorado - the High Park fire, which has grown to 82,190 acres, to the west of Fort Collins; the Woodland Heights fire, on the outskirts of Estes Park, blew up yesterday and has consumed 21 homes; down in the southwest corner of the state, near Durango, the Weber Canyon (6,000+ acres), Stateline, and Little Sand (18,000+ acres) fires are burning; the Springer fire, near Lake George is still burning; a new fire near Leadville, called the Treasure fire, is rapidly spreading; and the Waldo Canyon fire is rapidly expanding near Manitou Springs, and officials have called for the evacuation of four entire towns.  The Stateline fire is causing some trepidation because there are several natural gas and oil pumps in that area.
   At least cousin Aleda is doing much better and is out of ICU in Salisbury...  she will need a great deal of follow-up care, but hopes to go home soon.  I thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers for Aleda's recovery!  And, on another good note: A nearly 8,000-square-foot, $2.8 million research facility in Wachapreague was dedicated June 23 in a by-invitation event at which College of William and Mary President Taylor Reveley, Director of the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Nicholas DiPasquale and state Delegate Lynwood Lewis were slated to speak.  Some 250 people -- among them a delegation of scientists from China -- were expected to attend the ceremony to dedicate the Eastern Shore Seawater Research Laboratory, which is part of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science campus. (Go, Eastern Shore!)

A Connecticut Alligator?

The Colorado DoW announced late yesterday that the young bull moose trapped in a Nederland skate park, died from heat exhaustion after it was tranquilized.   Why wasn't the heat problem noted once the poor guy went down from the tranquilizer dart?  Surely the DoW took the creature's vital signs before they moved it onto truck -  putting ice packs around the moose's neck and girth while he was in transit might have saved his life.   Then the local news covered the flooding in Duluth, and said that there had been no fatalities there.  Bull hockey!  At least eleven mammals died at the zoo, and an unknown number of birds.   Grrrrrr!  I guess I'm in a nasty mood today. (Must be a good thing that I see my therapist on Monday!)
    At least cousin Aleda is doing a little better in Maryland.  They performed some heart tests yesterday, as she had chest pain due to the fluid in her lungs; and those results were normal.  Today they are checking on her gallbladder and liver, as well as running a wide variety of blood tests.  She felt well enough to be cranky yesterday, so she must be on the mend, according to her husband.  Her sister, Nancy, visited her yesterday and was pleased that Aleda was being a grumpy bear.  Maybe she'll be out of ICU this weekend.
   I read a headline today that announced that an alligator had been caught in the Connecticut River.  I did a double-take, and clicked on the story.  Under the headline was the following photo:

I took one look and said out loud, "But he's just a baby!"  And, apparently he is...  Authorities said he was only two to three feet long, and was reported wandering in a residential area near Enfield.  The reports mentioned that he was wearing a collar, which was still on when he was caught.  It is illegal to have an alligator, crocodile, or cayman in Connecticut.  If the owner is found, they will face a fine of at least $1,000.  (I hope the youngster will be shipped back to the South soon.)

Cousin Ill; Zoo Deaths

We've had a cold front move in, so the temperatures shouldn't rise above 80 degrees today or the mid-80s tomorrow.  Then we'll be back in the 99-100 degree area for the weekend.  Oh, boy.   All of the wildfires are still growing, even though the High Park fire has a 50% containment.  Today it's overcast, grey, and hazy here.
   I am upset about the flooding of the Duluth, Minnesota zoo.  It flooded two years ago.  Yesterday, new  flooding killed at least 11 captive animals - all of them "barnyard" critters.  Goats, pigs ,burros, and calves drowned.  The folks at the zoo haven't yet reached the raven and vulture cages - because the area is still underwater.  Well, duh....  What do you think they will find?  It enrages me that this happens!  Their seal swam out of it's containment area, as did the polar bear, and both were recaptured and returned safely.  But to allow caged and penned animals to drown is just totally despicable!
   And on top of that, my cousin, "Missy" Aleda, is fighting for her life in an ICU in Maryland.  Aleda suffered from asthma and multiple allergies while growing up.  Her breathing problems have never gotten better, they have only worsened as the years have gone by.  The diagnosis on Sunday night was pneumonia - but now the Docs aren't sure; she is not responding to the usual antibiotics and her lungs have filled.  Her blood pressure stayed at 190 over 110 all last night.  All further tests have been placed on hold, just to get her stable.  Whatever your belief system is, please send healing thoughts, wishes and prayers to Aleda.  (And I'm sure her husband, Cap'n Barry, could use some of those, as well!)
  Thank you.