CHRISTMAS EVE ASTHMA ATTACK

I really thought my ticket would be punched tonight.

I am worn out just trying to stay alive, so I'm going to go to bed. I will also be setting the alarm clock for 5 AM; because that is when snow is expected to make a showing.

The attack came out of nowhere.

Experiencing an asthma attack when you are all alone is scary.

You start coughing – but can’t draw breath into your lungs. Tears are running down your face. You feel like iron bands are closing around your chest, squeezing life out of you. You try not to panic because panic in this dire situation is an additional enemy.

I was feeling my life ebbing away, and looking at my inhaler: the inhaler was useless because I need air in order to inhale the steroid … and if I can’t suck air into my lungs, the inhaler is worthless.

I considered calling 911 – but I couldn’t breathe to speak; all I could do was cough and wheeze. 911 would have been as equally useless as the inhaler, at this point.

I MISSED BOB; and I knew that I may be seeing Bob, if my lungs didn’t settle down.

I was lightheaded.

I knew my face looked like it had gone through a meat grinder: strenuous coughing, trying mightily to get air into my struggling lungs, and feeling myself suffocate was putting pressure on the blood vessels in my face.

It’s a helpless feeling – and I hate feeling helpless. I don’t like feeling out of control of my own body.

I concentrate HARD on calming down – my struggling lungs are quickly moving towards hyperventilation; but, I know, from past experiences …  that if I can get the spiraling suffocation under control, I have a chance of surviving this attack.

My chest HURTS. 

My lips are tingling.

My throat is very sore.

I carefully stand up and walk around.

Suddenly I feel air squeezing into my constricted lungs, and I gulp it in – trying not to be greedy: too much air, too quickly, will set off another attack.

As the air slowly, and painfully fills my lungs, I have to spit. There is blood in the spit: my throat is raw from the coughing. Blood vessels in my throat have burst from the suffocation inflammation. I turn on the sink faucet, thankful the danger is past.

Now, I can use my inhaler – my airways are open enough. In short order, I am breathing easier: the danger is past.

But I am worn out.

It is hard on your body, struggling to stay alive.

I’m going to go to bed now and rest.

Hopefully I will wake up when the alarm goes off, notifying me snow may be waiting to greet my eyes. If not, I'll be with Bob ;-)

Christmas Eve was exciting … but I wish it had not been so painfully engaging.

We Three Kings - Sarah McLachlan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGVNzgUxE-g)

The First Noel/Marry Mary – Sarah McLachlan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s8eEMKx05A)

Angels We Have Heard on High – Sarah McLachlan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lak92TFo-zA)

O Come All Ye Faithful – Sarah McLachlan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGRG2qgTycU)

What Child Is This/Greensleeves – Sarah McLachlan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2qIqEPMriA)

O Little Town of Bethlehem – Sarah McLachlan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyPMDD8fGeA)

Sarah McLachlan: Wintersong (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGwXyM82k2Y)

SNOW – MAYBE; & DOORKNOB JINGEL BELLS

This is how hysteria works … some clueless talking head (no doubt a ‘science’ devotee), with a taste for {climate change} bullshit, agrees to be the DC ventriloquist doll, parroting the demonrat climate change hysteria.

“Terrifying US Weather!”

(https://en.mundohispanico.com/terrifying-us-snow-storms/)

I wonder, at what point, will people stop listening to these government propaganda agents >:-P

Point No. 1 – Snow accumulations as high as a one-story-building happens all the time on the East Coast and Mid-West regions; this is not “terrifying” news; people who live in these regions are prepared to be snowed in at some point during snowfall – they mark where their cars have been parked, restock the woodpile, and bring a shovel in the house … so they can dig a path out in the morning … and carefully dig the cars out.

I have memories of this happening when I was a child in Minnesota (and would laughingly tell Bob of those days): we always had a cozy wood fire going in or county houses; and at one time, had a basement filled with coal in one in-town house, for those cold snaps.

Snow drifts to the eves of the houses were a normal happening in the wintertime. We did not live in the mountains.

Point No. 2 – Heavy rains, and gusty winds are normal for all regions of the USA in the wintertime: this is not “terrifying” news. The East Coast, Mid-West, and Western States ALL get slammed with heavy snowfall, heavy rainfall, and severe winds … every wintertime.

This is not big news; this is not freaky weather. This is normal weather for these regions.

Point No 3 – None of what will be happening is “terrifyingly epic”.

Here, in the PNW where I live, the weather is going to be pretty normal – and I live fairly close to the Columbia River.

According to the weatherman, we’re supposed to have a ‘White Christmas’  we’ll see.

We rarely get snow on the lowlands for Christmas; and when we do see snow, it usually comes around Valentine’s Day – in delayed sprinkle. Sometimes, if we are lucky, we may get 12-18” in a rare January showing … but it’s melted away before the week is out.

Personally, I’d like to see a White Christmas actually happen here on schedule 😉

I’ve been immersing myself I the Christmas Spirit this year: lunch in town with friends, holiday clothing, new decorations to replace the old (more solo lobo style, now that family is absent), some fun “additions” to the holiday mood swing, new music (avoiding holiday love songs & tears, this year) – a Christmas Day snowfall would be welcome 😊

Preparing a Doorknob Jingle Bell; step 1.

Preparing a Doorknob Jingle Bell; step 2.

Preparing a Doorknob Jingle Bell; step 3.

A 'ringing welcome' Doorknob Jingle Bell; step 4.

I Appreciate the past – Christmases with Bob were wonderful.

I am purposefully/actively living in the present – acceptance of my city dwelling/solo lobo life.

I am looking towards the future – which is flexible, minute by minute/day by day.

‘Deck the Halls’ Heavy Metal – Orion’s Reign: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ2ar6ysGxM)

‘We Wish You A Merry Christmas’ – Orion’s Reign: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RdGejNnvY4)

‘Joy To The World’ – Orion’s Reign: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmQuNoqhJjY)

‘Little Drummer Boy’ – Orion’s Reign: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SweXvZTbqYI)

This next song is Not Christmasy … but I LIKE bagpipes; especially around this time of year 😊

‘Celtica Pipes Rock’: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo2hXxB06zQ)

HOLIDAY REPEAT

The obamanite demonrats are on a roll.

They are going into Lockdown Mode this Holiday Season – as they have the past 2 years. And, according to reports … there will be no let up at all.

Covid Here To Stay: https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/is-covid-here-to-stay-endemic-rcna9559

They have collected a following of brainwashed lemmings that mindlessly do what they are told; and they have waged war on freethinkers, Christians, The People, and whoever else refuses to fall in line and goose-step to their demands.

The obamanites have been a tyrannical force since 2009; and every week they make another power move. Covid19 is their golden goose – this past Presidential Election was stolen outright by lockdown mandates; the demonization of President Trump; a flurry of propaganda electoral voting ballots/faulty voting machines that only tallied biden votes and cancelled Trump votes; and obamanite backed/supported domestic terrorists such as blm and antifa that bullied, staged violent {protests} which included videoed murders of those who disagree with blm and antifa (every single demonrat political figure ‘stood with’ and ‘took a knee’ to the terrorizing lawlessness); defunded and fired city police forces around the USA – the obamanites feel invincible at the moment, and are meeting secretly behind closed doors to pass {laws} that The People have not had a voice in … or voted for.

They intend to do away with American Freedoms, and establish a socialist/communist foothold.

USA GOVERNMENT PUSH TO SUPPRESS FREDOMS OF SPEECH: https://www.theepochtimes.com/new-emails-reveal-evidence-of-government-efforts-to-suppress-free-speech_4171310.html?utm_source=News&utm_campaign=breaking-2021-12-22-1&utm_medium=email&est=VT7PmFeeuOfceEhsGT8Q8QK9qtLMslyEBZaXCva1RWNqejWs1g0RPZLZC63D&fbclid=IwAR2i8Tez9mVygsi9rO5jryjzqoNRmyYtWQJQtXh6F8GdEtvtgiJclryEavs

And like clueless biden; fauci is their favored tool of the moment.

biden is obama’s lapdog, happily licking barak hussain obama’s steel-toed-boots – and cluelessly parroting/pantomiming what he is told to say/do.

fauci, who fancies himself “science itself” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1pT8QgN8gU): is delusional. fauci helped to fund and spread this covid19 biological weapon, but he is not God – even if the obamanites worship him as one. The obamanites also refer to barak hussain obama as their NWO {messiah}; and treat his brown-nosing lapdog, biden, like “a deity”.

‘Sad Little Man’ song - about fauci: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsANoiJa9Uc)

Clearly, the obamanite demonrats are lost in their own convoluted delusions: and are stuck on a holiday repeat, like a scratched vinyl record. 

However, those of us who still think rationally – and choose freedom to make our own choices, over blindly following the blind … are not falling line, or obeying the talking heads in DC; or local offices, either, for that matter.

The People have had enough.

I’ve never knuckled down, I will never knuckle down; and I am glad to see that other’s who originally believed the scare tactic of the 2019 holiday season … are bucking the mandates of the 2021 holiday season.

ALL the local Senior Groups are continuing to meet together: those whose health is sketchy just stay home, and allow the rest of us to do our own thing. That’s how it should be in America, the Land of the Free.

Me at the Keenager's Christmas Meet, yesterday.

Seniors are aging, just like everyone else on the planet … the only difference is that we don’t have time to waste being housebound – and some seniors, like myself, are living solo lobo (for various reasons): the ridiculous house arrest mandates forced on us by DC and local governing forces, will do more damage to housebound seniors than this virus that has the same {killing rate} as a bad case of Winter influenza.

Masks don't work.

Vaccines don't work.

The imless mandates don't work.

People wearing masks and getting the jabs are still dying.

People can die of isolated loneliness.

People can die of stale home air (can’t open the windows in wintertime). Stale air breeds bacteria that causes lung damage.

People need people I their lives – maybe not every second of their life, but at least once a week; to stay healthily balanced emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

People in America used to understand that fact: before fauci’s lies took root and common sense was buried deep in demonrat political bullshit, coming out of the obamanite DC.

The People are no longer willing to repeat the past two years of politically motivated hysterical Holiday Season Repeats.

Maybe the 2021 holiday season will gift America with common sense again.

TRACTION

’Silver Bells’ 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLECnO5EaUU)

My phone told me this morning that there would be snow arriving Christmas Eve … or, Christmas Day. Reading that notice, I knew I’d need to find some kind of traction for my festive red leather boots.

I barely avoided a fall on my padded keister, a few days ago, when I stopped at Baker’s Corner before heading over the hill to Castle Rock. Though I’m a bit ‘fluffy’ – I’m not padded enough to avoid serious injury if I take a fall at my age; and it would have been painfully embarrassing, too (no pun intended).

I needed to go on the hunt for traction.

And, I figured if I’m out and about … a walk around the Lake would be prudent too: especially if that forecasted snow actually decides to make an appearance.

I wore my hiking boots today, so traction was not an issue this afternoon 😉

The walk around the Lake was enjoyable – and decked out in festive ornamentation along the hiking route: at night, Lion's Island puts on a brightly lit light display ... but, I avoid night driving, now ☹

My holiday mood, in the city, is gaining traction 😊

Skeletal winter trees, seagulls, and geese across the Lake; the second half of the 4-mile Lake hike.

Lake Trail Map.

(https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Lake_Sacajawea_Loop_Hike) 

The 2nd Heron I saw as my hike started. This Great Blue Heron looked like a grumpy old man, hunched against the cold weather.

We can use some peace on Earth ... and it's on it's way; Lion's Island Holiday Banner.

Holiday cheer along the trail.

I like hearing the Church bells - they chime 1 chime for each hour; on the hour. 11 chimes this afternoon, while I was there. ‘I Heard The Bells’ song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMmRkimMBOE)

Ducks & geese; Washington Way Bridge.

Geese staying warm; Washington Way Bridge. A number of avian species, including ducks and geese, often stand on one leg to thermoregulate (control their body temperature) during cold weather by keeping more heat close to the body, the same way a person might wrap their arms around themselves when cold.

Heart garland tied around a tree trunk along the Nichols Boulevard side of Lake Hike.

Lingering Fall color, though the majority of trees are skeletal bare now.

Another decorated tree at the Sacajawea footbridge; Nichol's Boulevard side of Lake. The Sacajawea-with son, Pomp statue is located towards the middle of the Lake, across from R.A. Long High School.

R.A. Long High School (marked on map).

Snowberry bush; R.A. Long High School in background. Clusters of pure white snowberries appear in late summer and fall and last through much of the winter making snowberry one of the most appropriately named native shrubs.

Bela was at his usual station near the Japanese Garden bridge - doing his thing; posturing as the 'Count' 😉 Cormorants have feathers that become easily waterlogged, which allows them to dive deeper by preventing air bubbles from getting trapped underneath their feathers. This is one reason cormorants often stand with their wings widespread, drying their wet feathers after diving.

Shy little squirrel hides in the bamboo along the river's edge; must be this year's teenager.

A bit of a snafu ... Nichol's Boulevard & Ocean Beach Highway - upper end of Lake hike.

The geese begrudgingly parted way.

This is what caught my eye when I turned into the Lake area, off Ocean Beach Highway earlier; upper end of hike; Kessler BLVD.

More festive highlight in a bleak winter landscape; Kessler Boulevard.

’In The Bleak Mid-Winter’ song – Matthew Ward:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvCN1vfaaBk)

2nd squirrel bridge in Longview, located on Kessler Blvd. These little bridges sure gained traction here - there are 7 now.

(https://www.bendbulletin.com/lifestyle/travel-longview-wa-bridges-gap-between-people-and-squirrels/article_434a2e33-bb7c-5c86-9968-21f1ecbd12e0.html)

Oriental Japanese Maple bedecked with colorful balls & glitzy cones; Japanese Garden area along the Kessler Boulevard side of the Lake hike route.

Little squirrel hustling to get his tree pad, cozily padded for winter comfort.

That particular leaf didn't suit - so, he's revisiting Mother Nature's 'store' for something different. LOL

After my 4-mile hike, I added another mile of steps to find something slip-proof to put on the soles of my red leather boots; the slippery scare had more to do with wet/oily pavement … but with ice and snow on the breeze this weekend, I want to make sure I won’t be taking a tumble in the foreseeable future 😉

And because I didn’t want to go home and wash my sweaty hair before shopping, the stores were just going to have to take me as I was: it was 37-degrees outside – but the humidity was 86%. I needed the coat with the hood I was wearing to deal with the temperature/ward off an ear-ache due to breezes getting past my inner ear flap and causing pressure pain … but all that trapped heat inside my coat, as I walked, made me sweaty. And my hair looked like I’d brushed it with oil.

Fun hike - now I'm off to find some traction for my boots.

I do not want to repeat Saturday's slippery moment.

Traction apparatuses.

I had said – and posted – earlier this year, that “nothing could entice me to ever shop at Fred Meyers again” after they locked my bank account over a fueling dispute (their fault): but, Fred Meyers was the only store that had anything for the soles.

I wasn’t happy about that, but in considering they were my only choice, my mind asked if my pride was more important than saving my bacon; the need to save my bacon won the inner argument 😉

Safe now, I hope.

I also bought some earmuffs I hope will cut down on the humidity sweating while hiking in cold weather.

So, I found the skid-proof apparatuses at Freddies … but, I drove across the street to Safeway to fill the gas tank 😊