extreme fatigue, looking forward, looking back

This week has been one of those weeks that time has compressed. Monday felt like Friday had already happened, and I was still not done with Monday jobs. Quite the horror. My routine is work when the birds wake me up, till I can't put a sentence together any more, then unload the car, wash the wet, cold clothes and retlo, eat, go to bed.

repeat.

Wednesday was a mix of very special excitement and the pleasure of good work almost done. the garden I was working on is a difficult strip of retaining wall that will be a path in a year or two. I like seeing the garden emerging from the rain and dirt. I am looking forward to seeing the soil improving in the years ahead.

My daughter got news about the program she wanted to transfer into- she got in. They told her at her interview. That kind of delirium is very rare and worth cherishing. I am so grateful for her and am looking forward to the next 4 years of her work even if it is on another continent.

I ended the night having a quick chat with Erik who will get to Beijing before me. particulars about how to contact each other and what we are taking. shit I hear a couple of birds, so much for my night's sleep.

Vaccinations and travel health

I got my last vaccinations on Friday. It was very nice to be done with that chore. Both the hour round trip every Friday for 4 weeks and the sore shoulders some times. These last shots were no problem. I still have to figure out how I am going to deal with water and mosquitoes. Too many ways to expose myself to bugs via these two routes.

My throat has been sore most of the last 4 weeks. In the last 3 days, it seems to be clearing up. I was able to help run some big trees up a hill with the landscaping guys. My legs and lungs did not embarrass me. I don't know if the throat was spring hay fever or vaccine related. I am glad the tickle is easing. Glad I can still push/pull reasonably big trees. Testosterone still rules. Nice that I can borrow some to plant big trees.

FYI- my vaccines were expensive. Almost $2000, total. We used our HSA to pay for them. Most of the vaccines are good for 3-6 years and need boosters if you travel again.

Sunday fatigue and week's worth of chores

The last 3 days have been full of rain, planting, a prickly response to having to hug a number of conifers, and transplanted seedlings. It is still way too cold for decent fast growing. On the other hand the transplanted seedlings have an easier time of adjusting to their new roomier digs. For once I got a bunch of seedlings into the 4 inch pots they need to grow out in. And I got them back into a green house for the cool nighttime. Even without an external heat source, the greenhouse is keeping the plants 10 degrees warmer than the ambient temp if I close it up before the sun goes down.

Gas is a noteworthy cost these days. I have driven to PA or upstate NJ most days this week in a van. Gas is $3.60 a gallon. At least NJ still has people who pump for you. It is a small luxury that I do enjoy.

I have been emailing my daily todo lists and "what I did" lists to myself. That way I am keeping a record in multiple places and I can transfer the info between my Mac and PC worlds. Somewhat of an additional data pain. My plant databases are also way too big now. I have multiple years and multiple gardens for which I must keep information. I like the challenge. Today I managed to repot some agave and yuccas into pots that better matched their eventual sizes. They are potentially anywhere from 4" diameter plants to 18' tall trees. I don't think we will be able to keep the yucca growing that long, but it will be fun to try.