Still not on fire

[st_aurafina]

Thank you for comments on my last post: you're all lovely people and it helped to know you were thinking of me and lilacsigil.



We're still safe, and our town is safe, which is great. One settlement over, in the middle of dense forest, the fire keeps flaring up and being extinguished, which is scary but unless we get another hot day with strong northerly winds, it won't be a problem for the township. It's still a problem for the people that live there, most of whom I know. There are still fires around but not so close to us.

Several people lost their homes, and many people lost stock and farmland (which is to say that the land is there, of course, but the pasture and fencing is gone so it's not workable land at the moment.) There's been fantastic response from the community - there are fencing days ahead where they roll out kilometres of fencing in a day, there are feed convoys carrying donated feed to hungry stock, and the homeless people have been housed in furnished places. The local collection site for donated goods was swamped in a week and can't take any more donations. (I'd normally have donated cartons of toiletry essentials but they were fine for those, so staff at work here suggested making up Easter gift baskets for the kids whose parents can't afford/don't have time to buy Easter eggs etc.) This is a good community.

The fire got into the peat swamps, though, which is bad because it will burn for months/years, and because it's putting out carbon monoxide. You know that thing in Fringe, where they had areas where the O2 could drop below breathable levels? It's like that - they've had to close schools in some areas, they've evacuated nursing homes, and people who are vulnerable thanks to lung disease or other health complications have to stay indoors with the windows closed. Hospitals have been equipped with special equipment to measure CO levels in patients. The CFA is talking about CO monitors for households. I don't live immediately close to the areas where it is at the worst, but if the CFA recommend a monitor, I think I will get one. (I know they are more common in the US, but it's not common here at all.) I'm selling salbutamol inhalers at a great rate. People around here all have a rattly smoker's cough, regardless of smoking status.

It sounds very dramatic (it was very dramatic!) but I am fundamentally okay. For the first week after the evacuation, lilacsigil and I were taking shifts through the night to check the incident reports at the CFA website to see if we had to evacuate again, and we've both been a little jumpy every time the wind changes and smoke pours into town from the existing fires. It's been a weird and emotional week for me and pretty much everyone I know. We were all phenomenally lucky that the wind was with us, because otherwise there would have been very different and very destructive outcomes.

There's a photo gallery here at the local newspaper, for people who want to see that kind of thing: Fires sweep through the south-west


Other non firey things in my life:

- Saw Black Panther, was amazed and delighted, would see again many times. Also there was a couple of seventy year olds on a movie date there in the middle of the day. Total relationship goals.

- survived the codeine apocalypse at work, when all pain killers with codeine were rescheduled to prescription only. Even though we survived, I still maintain this is a shitty way to manage drug dependence. Also now I have nothing but paracetamol or ibuprofen (or diclofenac) to sell people who have had teeth pulled or been mashed by cows. And gastric bleeds are on the up and up at the hospital.

- I had my dental check up and I need a crown to support an old filling that is giving up on life. I call this tooth my Snape tooth, because I planned out a long and involved Snape fic while I got the original filling put in. I can't remember the plot of the fic anymore, but the name persists.

- I got to buy yarn! I am teaching my sister to crochet, and she chose this pattern for her next project: Free Crochet Floor Pouf Pattern. It's interesting the things she chooses - I mostly made hats and scarves when I was starting out, but she goes in entirely different directions.

- Thanks to my Black Sails watching, I decided to give Master and Commander another go, this time on audio book. *gigglesnorts* There are a lot of very rude naval terms in this book, even allowing for the endless boatfuls of seamen which is ridiculously funny when spoken aloud. When it comes to audio books, I am five apparently. FUTTOCK SHROUDS.

- We got a compost bin. lilacsigil is delightfully nerdy about what can and cannot be composted and it pleases me very much.

- Watching things on the tablet screen is fantastic and means that lilacsigil can catch up on all the things she's been missing out on due to vertigo. We finished The Exorcist S1 and are going to start on rewatching S2, and we're chugging along through Brooklyn 99. She says she will not watch Black Sails, though why she would want to miss out on all those futtock shrouds, I don't know.

- I don't know who recced this fic, but it's adorable and I hope there's more: Kimmy Gets A Subletter! (Titus Gets An Historical Romance) by rokhal, a Winter Soldier/Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt mashup.

I think that is all. *eats hot cross bun*

Comments

[lilysea]

I am very

pleased
glad
relieved

that you are not on fire! ^_^

[st_aurafina]

Oh, me too!

[auroracloud]

Glad you're not on fire!

Yay yarn! I'm so not allowed to buy more yarn before I knit/crochet my way through some of the huge amounts of yarn in my closet.

[st_aurafina]

It's such a relief!

I'm not allowed to buy more yarn for myself, either, not until the stash goes down a lot, but I've discovered this excellent loophole. All I have to do is prompt my sister to want the same yarn as I do!

[goss]

Oh my goodness, how did I miss your post on the fire? So very glad that you guys are safe and okay!! Scary stuff indeed. *hugs*

Also, yay Black Panther, Black Sails, Master & Commander, and hot cross buns!! All very happy-making things. ^___^

[st_aurafina]

Yeah, it was an exciting week for us around St Patrick's Day - we were really lucky. *hugs back*

[sholio]

Codeine's been prescription only in the US ever since I can remember - so 20-30 years at least - and clearly that's hugely helpful as a dependency control measure. /sarcasm

And yet ... at the same time ... okay, so, I had oral surgery last winter (early 2017). They gave me a pain prescription for what turned out to be not actually that much pain. I didn't really ask questions, just "okay, here are your pain pills" and I got it filled and ended up taking just one of the pills, during my initial post-op recovery. It knocked me flat and I slept for 6 hours or so, and then managed the discomfort with regular OTC painkillers (with about 15 prescription pills left over).

A few months later, my mom was visiting and took a look at the leftover painkillers. Her husband - my stepdad - has chronic pain due to hip issues and takes opioids regularly for that.

She told me the pills they gave me were 7 times stronger than the ones he gets for his disintegrating hips. She'd never actually seen that much codeine in a pill before.

No WONDER it knocked me flat! But they never told me anything other than I was supposed to take those pills every 4 hours for pain. It's kind of mind-boggling to think about how loopy I would have been if I'd been taking those things every FOUR HOURS considering that just one of them pretty much flattened me all day.

Which leaves me extremely conflicted about opioids. On the one hand, I know people with chronic pain who have trouble getting enough drugs to manage their condition. (Including my stepdad, who has to jump through a bunch of legal hoops and can only get a month's worth at a time, which often leaves him uncomfortably close to dangerous withdrawal symptoms because they live in a remote area and can't always come to town to renew the prescription).

On the other hand, a dentist gave me a shitload of heavy-duty opioids for minor surgery and no warnings at all about taking them! If I'd taken them like the directions told me to, I would have been an absolute mess for days and probably should have tapered off - which they never even mentioned as a possibility. (In all fairness drugs tend to hit me pretty hard, and I rarely need to take the full dosage of anything. Aspirin are usually more than sufficient for all my pain control needs. But they never even ASKED. I'd actually assumed these were low-dose painkillers because everyone was so matter of fact about it.)

ETA: Er, sorry about dumping all my opioid crisis feels on you! I'm also very glad you are not on fire. <3

[st_aurafina]

What you mostly seem concerned about (and rightfully) is that you weren't informed about your medication or told how to take it safely, or what to do with it if you had any left over. And that's not bad medication, that's bad medical practice. It's my job (and the doctor's job) to make sure that you're informed, you have good instructions, you have an understanding of potential side effects, and so on. With presciption medication and over the counter medication. The fact that you and family members had such wildly different experiences between different medications and procedures is so bad! It's so unregulated!

Pain relief is good and necessary, and access to good pain relief is important. Codeine isn't a potent opioid, not in the quantities we were allowed to sell, and it took a load off doctors having to manage basic injuries and conditions like migraine and toothache. I think we needed regulation - pharmacies had started real time online recording of sales to prevent abuse, but it was never made compulsory, and so the unethical/profit-oriented operators never had to put it in place. It was so frustrating.

Ugh. It just frustrates me that profit beat out ethics again. And the patient suffers.

[vass]

The fire got into the peat swamps, though, which is bad because it will burn for months/years, and because it's putting out carbon monoxide.

fucking yikes. DDDDD:

I'm glad you're all looking after each other, and sorry it's so terrifying and smoky.

Even though we survived, I still maintain this is a shitty way to manage drug dependence.

AGREED. Glad you survived it.

There are a lot of very rude naval terms in this book, even allowing for the endless boatfuls of seamen which is ridiculously funny when spoken aloud. When it comes to audio books, I am five apparently. FUTTOCK SHROUDS.

"Surely he must want a little penetration then."
and
"Don't talk to me of rears and vices, I've been in the navy my whole life!"

- We got a compost bin.

Congrats! Where do you guys stand on cat litter? Composting it and then not using the compost on veggies? Not composting it so you can use the compost on veggies? Separate composts? Some other option? (I'm Team Toxoplasmosis: my cats are contributing to the compost, and I'll use that soil to plant some native plants or something.)

- Watching things on the tablet screen is fantastic and means that lilacsigil can catch up on all the things she's been missing out on due to vertigo.

Oh cool!

- I had my dental check up and I need a crown to support an old filling that is giving up on life.

Same. You reminded me that I need to schedule that soon.

[st_aurafina]

"Don't talk to me of rears and vices, I've been in the navy my whole life!"

*snicker snort* It's so fantastically full of double entendre, I can't even. But also I am enjoying the rollicking adventure, which is good, since there's approximately three thousand books in the series.

We're not composting the cat litter, because our council lets us put it in the green waste bin so it gets composted but not by us. We want to use the compost on the veggie garden, because I think after three years in the same beds even with rotating them, the soil is needing to be managed a bit more closely. And after the blossom rot incident, I want to be nerdy about soil preparation - I got a ph kit from Bunnings and everything.

Compost nerdery is weirdly exciting - citrus no, pineapple yes. Bread only in small amounts. Little to no dairy. Brown versus green waste. lilacsigil is prowling around waiting for leaves to fall because they're the best brown waste, apparently.

[lark_ascends]

*sends more gentle hugs*

Disprin forte actually manages my cervicogenic headaches nowadays. I now will have to get the doctor to give me a prescription when I will need a new packet. I do find it frustrating. (I try to avoid having them, as I still have gastritis symptoms, aggravated by taking the painkillers, but sometimes I have no choice)

[st_aurafina]

*hugs back*

Yeah, it's annoying when you have a well managed medical condition and have to see the doctor for scripts when everything is okay. It's very frustrating for me too, having to send people up to the doctor for something they could buy a month ago.

[kore]

Still glad you are not on fire! Also yay Black Panther!

....Futtock what

[st_aurafina]

....Futtock what

It's a kind of sail, apparently. I'm just assuming that the words I don't know are a kind of sail because these ships have at least five hundred different types of sail. If it's not a sail, it's going to be a wooden beam of some sort.

It ain't called Age of Sail for nothing, it seems.

[sassbandit]

Glad you're still safe! those peat fires sound awful though.

But really I just dropped in here to say: FUTTOCK SHROUDS.

F U T T O C K

S H R O U D S

[st_aurafina]

I WANT TO CLENCH MY FUTTOCK SHROUDS BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S PHYSICALLY POSSIBLE.

I am enjoying this book on so many levels, it's great.

[shopfront]

Oh I think I missed the early post(s) too, but I'm so glad you're okay. I am already very out of sight out of mind about fire issues now I'm no longer living in the death country full of burning burniness, but yikes, that sounds like it's been full on and I'm so glad you're all safe <3 barring CO issues, yikes. And yes, definitely get a monitor if it's available. It's like a smoke alarm in the UK because of all the gas heating systems, and I had a massive learning curve about them when we arrived. I didn't realise how hard it is to detect issues without one so better safe than sorry.

[st_aurafina]

Yeah, it was scary. But we got through it, and the cats were brilliant. You did a smart thing, getting away from this batshit land of natural disasters, I'm telling you.

As soon as the CFA recommends a monitor, I'm going to get one. They say they're reviewing safety data now.

[monanotlisa]

Oh, girl. Good luck with the fires, and the fires in society -- God, the codeine thing is getting my goat. I remember catching my period early in Australia, and receiving a Panadein (sp?) Forte from a friend. I looked at her incredulously, and she smiled and said, "Trust me, this will work, at least a little." And it did!

[st_aurafina]

Thank you! The peat fires are the only ones burning now, but wow, they're nasty. They smell like burning tires, which makes sense considering the peat is on the way to becoming coal in a million years or whatever.

The codeine thing is so annoying - we pharmacists had a really good system that was working (had already worked with reducing pseudoephedrine abuse) but the politicians would rather the splashy, controversial effect of banning OTC sales all together.

Panadeine Forte is 30mg codeine - it was always prescription only, but you used to be able to get a paracetamol 500/codeine 10mg product from pharmacies.

[tamsin]

I'm glad you're still okay! And it's awesome that your community is so supportive of everyone who needs help.

[st_aurafina]

Me too! And yeah, we have a great community when it comes to pulling together like this. <3

[raven]

That sounds so scary! I'm glad you're doing ok.

[st_aurafina]

*hugs* Thank you.

[gwyn]

Glad to hear you guys are doing okay, and even getting to do some mundane stuff like go to movies. That's really scary about the peat fires--we have a few here in the Northwest, including one that's in a park near me, and it's this constant vigilance thing there too. I mean on one hand, it's fascinating. On the other…fire that can flare up and steal your oxygen.

[st_aurafina]

On the other…fire that can flare up and steal your oxygen.

Right? It is fascinating, but every now and then I want to get in the car and drive to some better air.

[thisbluespirit]

I am very glad to hear that you are not on fire, but I'm not surprised you've been getting jumpy. That all sounds awful for the area. *hugs*

There are a lot of very rude naval terms in this book, even allowing for the endless boatfuls of seamen which is ridiculously funny when spoken aloud. When it comes to audio books, I am five apparently. FUTTOCK SHROUDS.

I've been slowly reading these lately and hadn't thought of it like that, but, ha, yes. That's one way to enjoy it! Is someone good doing the reading?

[st_aurafina]

I've been slowly reading these lately and hadn't thought of it like that, but, ha, yes.

I think it being an audiobook makes it worse? I think I have a little more cool when I'm reading text on a page, at least.

Is someone good doing the reading?

It's a guy I don't know, Ric Jerrom, and he's very good. As far as I can tell, he does a lot of audiobooks, which doesn't surprise me because he's excellent. It's a big cast of sailors in the book, and he makes them all stand out very clearly.

[wendelah1]

Hot cross buns sound lovely. Maybe I can still run out and find some at the market.

I've not been around much on social media in the past two weeks so I missed your fire post. I'm so glad your town is safe. The peat swamp fire thing is creepy-scary and it wouldn't hurt to get a CO detector for your house.

Codeine has been a prescription-only med here for as long as I can remember.

[st_aurafina]

The hot cross buns were lovely - our bakery is closed on Good Friday but I make mine, so they were super fresh.

Yes, I'm definitely looking into a CO monitor, as soon as the CFA releases a suggested brand for our area. It's the sensible thing to do.

[halfeatenmoon]

Shit, I didn't know until this entry that you were in that fire zone. It's been nasty. I work for one of the state government departments and they're sending some of us off on week-long secondments to help with support efforts. This has been a bad one and I'm glad you're safe.

[st_aurafina]

Omg, it was so crap, but the CFA were amazing, and the local township was amazing. It was bad! It didn't make much news I think because nobody was hurt/killed, but with a change of the wind, they could have been.

I'm glad we're all safe, and I certainly learned a lot about evacuating efficiently. I think we'd all gotten a teensy bit complacent in the past few years. Next summer, I'm packing my go bag and I'm not unpacking it until I get out winter scarves.

[lizbee]

The fire got into the peat swamps, though, which is bad because it will burn for months/years, and because it's putting out carbon monoxide.

YIKES. But I'm extremely glad you're not on fire.

...survived the codeine apocalypse at work...

I'M SO MAD ABOUT IT. My mother's doctor gave her a prescription without drama, but the price has tripled! I'm sending her money regularly because she can no longer afford her medication on the pension.

And gastric bleeds are on the up and up at the hospital.

Is this related? More people taking Nurofen and not knowing it's meant to go with food?

[st_aurafina]

My mother's doctor gave her a prescription without drama, but the price has tripled!

I'm still charging (almost) the OTC price for mine - there's a dispensing fee on top now. The generic brand is going for $8.95 for 40 tablets. But lilacsigil tells me that the wholesalers have jacked up prices, apparently, so I guess I'll see what happens when that stock runs out and I have to reorder. Ugh. Way to push everyone onto the higher strengths that are covered by concession cards and so on.

[lurkingcat]

I'm glad you're still safe and that there are non-firey things in your life. (Every time I see the word firey I still think of these guys though).

The situation with peat swamp sounds awful.

[st_aurafina]

Hee, I remember those guys! "You don't need two eyes!!" Best movie.

Yeah, as it turns out, burning peat smells like a tire fire. I can't imagine how it must have reeked when people burned it for fuel.

[dhampyresa]

YOU ARE NOT ON FIRE :D

What was your favourite part of Black panther?

[st_aurafina]

NOT ON FIRE IS OPTIMAL.

What was your favourite part of Black panther?

Omg, how to choose? I love everyone in this bar! Seriously.

It was so good to see T'Challa at home with his family and friends, because we got to see him being funny and relaxed and happy and disarmed, you know? And he loves his team so much!

I wasn't expecting to love Shuri so much - I thought the actress was cute but I didn't know Shuri would be a sassy teen tech genius, or that her dynamic with her brother would be amazing. And rude! And I knew Angela Basset would be brilliant but wow. She was a queen in so many ways.

And all the loyalty kink. Omg, such loyalty all over the place. So I guess my favourite part was the family/loyalty/duty... yeah. <3 <3 <3

[umadoshi]

So glad you guys are still doing okay, and that your community is excellent. *hugs*

lilacsigil can catch up on all the things she's been missing out on due to vertigo.

Hooray!

[st_aurafina]

*hugs hugs hugs* It's a relief to have things coming back to normal.

[adafrog]

Damn. Some of those pictures were scary. Like the cattle eating on a smoldering round bale? OMG!

And peat on fire. That's like our town in the northeast that's been on fire for over 50 years due to coal. (But then I googled it, and found out that there are other areas of the world that have similar fires that have been going for hundreds to thousands of years. Wow. http://mentalfloss.com/article/52869/5-places-are-still-fire).

FUTTOCK SHROUDS.
lolol

Go lilacsgirl for being nerdy!

Yeah, we're having a big opioid issue here too. I just did a CME on it, which was interesting (if not completely appropriate for pediatrics). But they did mention a way to deal with tylenol and advil WRT pain. They said that it had to be scheduled at least the first two days or it wouldn't work.

[st_aurafina]

It's so gnarly, the opioid issue. Big Pharma is doing a lot of harm - I feel pretty sure they knew how much of a problem oxycontin was going to be before it was released, the fuckers - and it doesn't help that it's a political hot button.

It's so hard when you have patients who are vastly undermedicated for treatable pain and you just can't help them. They're useful meds! But so abused.

[nixwilliams]

Fires are scary. I'm glad you're OK.

[st_aurafina]

SO SCARY OMG. *hugs you*

[schneefink]

Please keep not being on fire! It is generally the preferable state of being.

[st_aurafina]

I definitely agree!

[lyr]

Glad to hear you continue to not be on fire!

[st_aurafina]

Thank you! Me too...

[tinny]

I love the idea of a Snape tooth!

Codeine has always been prescription-only here, but then Germany has always been very strict when it comes to prescriptions, so probably not a good comparison.

I'm glad you continue to be fire-free, although the peat swamp thing is tragic. :((

[singe]

Peat fire? I'm getting a Fire Swamp vibe from that. (Beware of ROUSs.) Here's hoping a nice rain takes care of the problem for ya'll.