Week of March 17, 2025

I took it slow at work this week, focusing on handoffs since my sabbatical starts March 31. The brain fog got better as the week went on, but my energy levels still aren’t back to normal. I even took a nap on Saturday, which is very out of the norm for me.

Follow up with the hematologist was unremarkable. Still don’t know what caused my blood clots and whether or not I need to be concerned going forward. So, seven more vials of blood sent away for more tests. The tests are to rule out genetic factors since I don’t have lifestyle factors of concern (young, don’t smoke, active, not obese, general blood markers are in normal range), and I haven’t had injuries that could cause clots in recent memory.

This coming week is it the vascular specialist, the following week my primary care doctor.

Perhaps the tiredness is from the extra mental overhead of dealing with this, the uncertainty, and feeling kind of crappy about handing off things at work that I had hoped to have buttoned up and/or shipped before sabbatical.

I found a new vegetable CSA! The one we were a part of for the past five years abruptly ended at the end of the last season, which left us scrambling. I noticed a small sign while driving one day, went back the next day to copy down the phone number, and gave them a call. Looking forward to giving it a try.

A brief list of things to start off my sabbatical:

Fly fishing! On day one, I plan to put my gear in the car the night before, pack a lunch for Charlie and one for me, drop him off at school, and drive directly over to a stream and not come back until the afternoon.

Helping the local Trout Unlimited chapter with trout releases for their “Trout in the Classroom” program. I signed up for a couple half-day sessions.

Bowl turning

Carving some small troughs

Adding a platform and a slide to Charlie’s swingset

I got a new weather station set up finally. My main hold up was that I wanted it on the roof, but it is a real pain getting up there, which I’d have to do to clean the station. Instead, I decided to attach a pole to my fence. Not the ideal location because there is a building and some trees nearby that interfere with the wind, but still better than the last location and better than having to get on our steep roof regularly.

Check out my Weather page for more.

I have the data syndicating to Weather Underground and PWS Weather, and I plan to set up more later this week.

Hoping to pick up an outdoor air quality monitor next.

Charlie did not want to be at Trader Joe’s and wasn’t shy about it. Our cashier saved the day by suggesting that he decorate a “special bag” with stickers that she’d use for our groceries while she scanned our items. Worked like a charm.

Later, at BJ’s he was being a ham. “Daddy, take a picture of me over here!”

While showing Charlie how to hold a pencil:

“I have another way to do it. Just grab it!!”

That’s definitely my kid. Those words could have come out of my mouth.

Thursday, after picking Charlie up from school, we drove through town instead of our normal way home. He spotted the library, pointed it out to me, and asked to go in a look for a Peppa Pig book. Sounds great to me! We had some time to kill, and going to the library is something we’ve been encouraging.

Then, once we went in, he actually told the librarian what he was looking for, which is big. Every other time he was too shy.

Unfortunately, all Peppa Pig books were checked out, so we picked out some others. Then he got to learn about how to place a hold on a book and get an email when it comes in.

Later, when another kid wasn’t playing nicely in the library play area, he handled it very well. And when it was time to leave, he helped clean up the blocks and kitchen set he was playing with.

Overall very mature afternoon for a little guy.

Two more sweet moments with Charlie this week:

Amanda needed to take an early train into the city, and Charlie wanted to get a muffin from the coffee shop by the train station. It was a bit chilly in there, so he wanted to sit on my lap while he ate.

Later that day Charlie wanted to work in the workshop. I wasn’t feeling great and I was tired, but I took him anyway because sometimes a little guy needs a win.

Spring update:

Even more crocuses bloomed, the daffodils are blooming (Charlie loves them), and woods walks are popular again because it isn’t too cold.

I’ve been a little stressed about my garden because we are going to be gone for a week right in the middle of when we’d need to tend seedlings inside. Last year when we were gone for a week almost all of my seedlings died and I had to start them over. My heart can’t take that again, so I think I’m going to get tomato and pepper seedlings from a greenhouse after we come back and tend to them until Mother’s Day. Hudson Valley Seed Co is about 90 minutes away, which will make for a good day trip. Everything else I’ll direct sow.

Fly tying corner

Wet flies, nymphs, and flymphs this week.

I’ve been reading a lot about wet flies and flymphs recently, so I ordered some hen capes to tie some flymphs (the black flies above are the first of those). I’m also on the hunt for a copy of The Art of Tying the Wet Fly & Fishing the Flymph by Leisenring and Hidy.

Update: After typing that, one popped up on eBay for less than half the cost of other copies I’ve seen. I bought it right away.

The black flymphs are size 16 and I’ll use them next week since the early stoneflies are appearing.

I really like that I’ve tied all of these with dubbing I’ve made myself. I really like the spiky squirrel dubbing and plan to tie more flymphs with it this week.