A Beast

 

Colby Mountain in Eastern Tehama County

Yesterday afternoon, the Park Fire exploded once again. The fire is active around the Mill Creek Area and grew by 13,000 acres in 24 hours. This is near Mineral, just outside the Lassen Volcanic National Park. 

It's a beast! 

This shows the fire from space. 

This was this morning. 

I'm thankful I can go to the Watch Duty App to get actual wildfire camera footage. 

This fire reminds me of the Dixie Fire that burned well into Sept. 

I'm feeling okay about the distance between us and the fire, but it's still upsetting because this area holds a lot of special memories for us. We were just there a few weeks before the fire started. 

Now, moving on to some non-fire updates -

My late sister's favorite flower was the Gerbera Daisy. 

Hello Sister! I sure miss you! 

This morning I went to see my ophthalmologist - It had been 2 years. 

I had no idea that it had been that long,

 especially when Medicare covers my eye exams. I have no good excuse. 

After undergoing my cataract procedure, I noticed a significant increase in dryness and the appearance of floaters in my eyes, which were issues I had never experienced before. I initially attributed the dryness to the arid climate we live in. However, upon consulting with my Doctor it was determined that my eyes were exceedingly dry and required intervention. The solution recommended was the insertion of punctal plugs, which are tiny devices inserted into the tear ducts to help retain moisture. Medicare covers the cost of these plugs, every six months. Within just 5 minutes of having the plugs inserted, I noticed a remarkable improvement in my vision, and the uncomfortable sensation of having debris in my eyes vanished.

I've been directed to apply these warm compresses to my eyes for 20-30 minutes every day. Initially, I was concerned about the condition of my lenses, but the doctor confirmed that they were in good condition. Additionally, I received good news about the pressure in my eyes and was told that I do not have glaucoma. I'm really happy with the outcome!

And not to use eye drops with preservatives.

 Look for the PF (preservative-free) on the labels. 

I have a great ophthalmologist who I've been seeing for the past 16 years since I moved to this area. He always takes a lot of time with me and we talk...This morning we started talking about Dentists and Dental work. Unfortunately, many of the dentists in our area have stopped accepting dental insurance. We both agreed it would be nice if Medicare would include some Dental coverage as a healthy mouth is crucial for overall well-being. My ophthalmologist mentioned that some elderly patients struggle to afford dental care and end up losing their teeth as a result. But they have vision coverage! Vision coverage is still the last good bargain in insurance. I wonder how long that will last!

At the moment, I'm awaiting a response from a new dentist located in the next small town south of us. Many Dental providers in the area are currently not accepting new patients, or they may only be seeing individuals who are covered by specific types of insurance, such as those held by Native Americans. I'm waiting for them to call me back so I can secure an appointment with this new dentist. For years, my medical and dental needs were met right here in my town. We have two hospitals that cater to all the surrounding rural towns. However, I've noticed an increasing number of people having to travel to Chico, Sacramento, or even San Francisco for their medical appointments. This shift is quite noticeable and seems to be impacting many individuals in our community.

I'm also waiting on the pharmacy—I'm supposed to take all that prep stuff for the colonoscopy on the 13th! They called and said they were out and that it would take a few days. Hmmm, "a few days" seems more than "a couple days," so I don't know if I should just let the clinic know and reschedule. 

Again, this never used to happen. What a bad time to be a senior citizen. 

Have a lovely Day and evening. 

Debby