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YIPPEE: Truck Travails Today

For Cassandra, the first few weeks of August were largely spent surviving the constant nearby work of large dumptrucks, logging trucks, haying and other tractors. "Truck Travails Today" is a compilation of emails she sent to Chris during those initial days, while struggling to withstand her circumstances and carry on with project tasks.

[Note: Anywhere you see ****, assume it was a not very nice word that Cassandra would not normally utter except when exposed to things like exhaust.]


8-2-04

-as I was starting to wake up and get up, a logging/very large truck went by 7:48am. Then another one about 15-20min later. I didn't then wake/get up until 9:19. Did house stuff... Back to yurt. Notice awful asphalty smell when remove mask. Normal clean up, get organized. Take shot. And what happens next?.....yup, large logging truck goes by. Don mask, crank filter. Stand right by filter because I am not about to close the yurt up after just opening it all, and it is sunny today (as in no clouds

jesus!

large logging truck right now

...that was, as in no clouds in sky, blue, sunny, what should be a nice summer day a little humid, but nice. If I could stop being near the trucks. In the house I saw the sun on the deck and thought maybe i'd go out front and get some sun for a little bit, since i never do anymore. And, since the radio announcer said "get out and enjoy the sun while you can today!" But now......i am not sure what to do.

and i just heard a loud crack out by the road like we heard yesterday towards to woods.

ok......i am shaking and doing bad and its only been, what.....a half hour or maybe 40 min max since taking a shot.
oh well.

and another pass by of large logging truck 11:18
and an empty sounding truck at 11:26 (going in same direction, a different sounding one) 11:28 ...logging one going down the hill
12:03 ...and back up
which i noticed as i was walking out towards the front deck to have a go at sitting in the sun. Had said **** it,
if i am going to get sick no matter what because they are ****ing going by, and i cannot close the yurt up until at least 3pm ish or later, (without suffering from heat), i might as well get sick outside in the sun.

But guess what....the sun isn't on the deck at 12:00 noon. At the edges maybe but why go thru the bother, and be closer to the trucks for shady, cramped sun. I guess the grass might be dry enough to sit in the grass, maybe behind the house, or maybe better to stay in yurt, with air filter cranked and mask.

by 12:52, logging/large trucks gone by 3 more times (49 minutes since last report)

and now again at 1:09
fyi: by large logging type truck, i in no way mean the neighbor's nasty smelling pickup/truck type vehicle. I mean large logging type trucks. Very different sound.

and again at 1:39, this one must have not been in right gear and heard popping sort of noises as it accelerated

and another one at 1:52 that is now beeping and idling up the hill a bit. And now coming back down? Or a different truck was up there and coming down. And now that one beeping and noisily doing something down the hill a bit.

and now...something huge coming down the hill 1:57 which sounds as if it stopped or is parking? Downhill...nope seems to have moved on some more. I think.

nope. it apparently did not move on. Rumblings happening downhill still. No idea what the **** is happening. That truck is definitely down there doing something. Hopefully not just sitting there. Ok. It let off the ?throttle? And...now more beeping more rumbling still rumbling

(crouched by air filter w/mask) dare not shut yurt up yet....but maybe should. Then i could take a shot finally.)

the huge truck is still straining and rumbling. now accelerating again? Beeping more.

is the road screwed up or something? Does it need work? What the hell?

Ok. Accelerating up. No. Beeping again. I really really need this to stop so i can do something different.

it has now been 12 minutes of nearby large truck doing something, 2:09. Will report back when its over.

2:20...more beeping, rumbling lower/farther away....maybe ending soon?

On the washer topic (i went in to deal with that): i think we may need to clean filters again. It shouldn't take 3 hrs to dry a small/reasonably loaded amount of clothing. And after 3 hrs, it is still damp, in need of hanging up, not folding. Now, it is nearly dry, so maybe in an hr or so if I was to go into the house at that time, it might be foldable. Not sure and won't likely find out.

oooh. It is slowing back. Rumbling lower? Nope. Nevermind. ****.

2:30, its in process of moving very very very very slowly up hill. beeping backing down,grinding spewing chugging, idling,

2:39 a different large truck is now coming up the hill. Theres beeping from farther up hill from the other one. Now two trucks rumbling out in front of the yurt and uphill just slightly. Now some banging on what sounds like a huge metallic drum. And at least one huge truck .....going downhill? but not far. ****. Grinding beeping rumbling whining

yes, yes, the yurt is closed up but for the dome and it mask on with filter. But ****.

2:51 no change, except add what sounds like a caravan of loud huge trucks going uphill, with beeping still in background.

3:00 i think i'm in hell.

there's like three different large trucks right out front, between the neighbors place and the turn around. The beeping is still going on. There's something going on by our driveway.

4:00.....do i dare hope and take mask off, ? Sounds fairly quiet now. that last descript continued straight on until a minute ago. Guess gonna take a shot now and see. I've been waiting a long time (all day right, since 10am) to take one. It would only be #2, so if they come back.....have a few more.

this started as a short 'HI' email.

oh well.

4:10, guess I took it too early. Though, at least this huge truck seems to have just gone up the hill, passing by, maybe to stay away for good?

4:43 it does seem perhaps the trucks are done now. Well, at least nothing more has happened in the past half hour.
Guess I'll wrap up this message.
hope your day is going better than mine has been.
xo
cass

suppose i could open the yurt back up now.


8-3-04 [a running count of the trucks]

1)before i was awake enough to find palm, anything.
2) another
3)8:25
4)8:32 gee, better stand up find mask and wake up, figure out what to do.
5)while in house
6)while in house
7)while in house
8)while in house
9) 9:54 (yes about 5min after shot taken) The sun is burning in now. Fortunately it was cool in here overnight. How long will that last though? So, tried opening up the yurt before I took shot. But had to shut the door right away because of the heavy exhaust smell. I guess things could be worse. At least those little hopping bugs are not here this week.
10) 10:03 (gee, I would like to unmask and drink my shake...) Regarding the heat, I am not bothering to make coffee. It will increase the airtemp, and then my body temp, making the liklihood of surviving the closed up yurt-with baking in sun that much more difficult.
11) 10:10
12) 10:38
13) 10:53 (oh goody another one going down hill at same time?, no, ? Is that one backing down? not sure. nope. Seems like it was two. Am leaving filter on high, so is a bit harder to tell what goes on farther uphill/downhill. Seems like there's still rumbling indicative of two trucks. And there goes a plane as well.
So...since its getting quite warm in here, exasperated by my exposure to this exhaust crap, and thus my temp regulation is off... Do I say **** it and either open the yurt and/or go outside? But...the yurt and air filter must provide some benefit by lessening the exposure. Best not to say **** it and make things worse? I also need to drink coffee, or else start taking tons of cranberry. My back/kidney area is really sore.
14) 11:10
15) 11:12
16) 11:23
17) 11:41 went by just after I opened up the yurt to try and cool off, and had decided to go into house to get cold coffee, charge the palm
18) another went by while in house. Was back out in yurt by 12:00 cleaning up the mess made when, in leaving the yurt, shakily, accidentally spilled some drops of the am's h.b.c. shake out of the cup down the door and onto the floor and mat.
19) 12:11 (only 5 mins after decided I really needed to take shot, and did so)
20) 12:28
21) 12:50
22) 1:01 (could still hear it at 1:04)
23) 1:06 (probably the same one coming back? Or another met along way, rumbling never stopped)
24) 1:23
25) 1:48 (this still rumbling at 1:53)
26) 2:03
27) 2:05
28) 2:19
29) 2:37 (I am resistant to eating during times like this as it is hard to process, so have had a h.b.c., two coffee shakes with only a little soy/mostly coffee sugar ice, and now a root beer. Best to wait for solids til later, even tho hungry) (Its supposed to rain. Never thought I'd prefer rain to sun, especially at this house) (It may actually be safer for me in the house...feels like a little relief when I go in there to get coffee, or a soda, or laundry. But, for how long. The house is quite toxic. )

30) 2:51
31) 2:54
32) 3:07 (have been noticing that cologne type smell.)
33) 3:28
34) one while in house
35) another while in house
36) another while in house (the covering of bedroom heater w/plastic is now done)

it is now 3:58

I am stopping the count and sending this off. I see you called while I was in house. Will listen to your message in a bit. Not sure if ok to take a shot yet.

37) another one. Maybe they're wrapping up....done for day?

It is also blazing hot in here since i waited so long to open the yurt up this am.

I made another shake with remaining coffee. Will chance food after taking a shot, which will not happen til sure trucks done.

4:03

bye


(later...) More on 8-3-04

38) 4:17
39) 4:27

4:59 took shot
5:14 heard car doors, not sure what happening, mask on again

5:16 truck coming downhill...sounded lighter than some, but still had the heavy exhaust sound, shifting etc.

5:40 probably a pickup truck w/trailer?

lymph nodes are screaming

whatever it was, very stinky

7:04 guess this is over now. For today. Done shower/house. 4th shot taken. Recovering as best can. Bad bad bad. Wiped out. Liver and lymph sore sore sore.


8-4-04 [an email sent to Chris in response to a mid-morning phone message]

Nope.
Having a worse day than yesterday.
truck count is up to 25 now.

worse than...
because the effects of two prior days are piling up and

#26 going by now

having more trouble

.......

#27 going now

thanks for doing the yippee calls
i cannot even sit up now, trouble typing too
so...fyi, another lost day for my phone call tasks

#28

count 35, guess i should close this so you have heard from me. Having hard time.


8-4 [the tallying email started separately earlier in the day]

#3 7:52 (was dreamthinking about how we need an automatic timer on the filter to crank up to high at 7am. And there were columns and rows for the trucks in a spreadsheet, which later turned 3d and I was putting masking tape over each wire representing a truck and taping between each wire to keep them separate and in place
#4 8:00 (i think.dont want to do this again today) having just fallen asleep around 2am, and tossing around all night, i feel wiped out having just been exposed to four more truck fumes, after two full days, i am feeling sick
#5 8:23
sick today right now means
-shaky
-as if liquid metal has been poured into my veins, only maybe its my lymph veins? Burning cold tingling heavy -nauseous
-

#6 8:26-9, it took that long to pass
ears pounding
face and neck (lymph) aching

#7 8:35,
#8, 8:46,

cumulative effect

#9,10,11,12 while in house(or maybe one was only a low flying jet? Was

#13, 9:50

#14, a few minutes before 10am, just after i had taken a shot

there is an insect(?) making noise up in the dome which is very very irksome grating out of it ve

#15, 10:05
cwrite otiofit

#16,17,18,19,20,21 (these 6 passbys happened while i was too out of it to pick up the palm, move my arms body anything) the 6th #21 just passed at 10:52

#22 10:54
#23 10:59
#24 11:12
#25 11:28
#26 11:40
#27 11:45
#28 11:56

have never wished so fervently for rain but then would it prolong my pain the radio announcers have been saying for three days now to get out and enjoy the sun while you can #29 12:13 #30 12:24 #31 12:30 #32,33,34,35 (4) between last and 1:08 #36 1:15 #37 1:25

#38,39,40,41,42(5) between last and 2:30

am trying to hold out for shot until after like 3-4 pm will try to work on yippee this eve but am struggling so...dont know

#43 while in house

at 4:00pm......hasn't been one in at least 45 mins. seems like maybe they are done for the day?


Monday, 8-9

cold all night tossing turning(i guess i should be turning the heat on)

8am big tractor/truck went by

am afraid to get up can hear rumbling of tractors but where?

.....

(since i am likely ****ed no matter what: its supposed to reach 80 today and is sunny, there are tractors nearby and he'll likely hay, ...not to mention the fact that i feel like i will not survive this all, stemming from the week's events)
Thought i would take my shake and go out front to porch to feel sun. grabbed sol radio and chair and walked up side through grass with mask on, was looking at porch to consider if even worth it (sun only in front corner by time i got out there), when i heard a rustling. Thinking of the deer we saw recently, i turned my head towards the field/woods and....instead saw.....a person walking there. He was turned towards woods and don't think he saw me. I immediately turned and went back. got in yurt and shut yurt.


8-10

I am going to try working and see if i can get some things done for yippee

big trucks have gone by (about 4-5 so far) andi am not doing very well but... I have to try a least

Also, i suspect an animal walked past the awning (to the south) between yurt and tree. i heard something in middle of night and saw tracks when left yurt this am. did not stand there , or follow them to see...because air reeked of exhaust thru mask and didn't think could afford to stand long.

there are slight clouds and am hoping i can keep yurt closed up without baking because it is not likely safe outside. I can hear trucks but not tell if they are just up the road or further back in woods


8-10 (later in day)

Apparently my palm is in kahoots with the trucks

      memory mgr.c, line: 3654
      free handle
      reset

same exact message over and over trying to access web from straight on, after logging in thru network menu, after logging in thru versamail and trying to access web via a link

so........no web access.

Suppose all the tasks i was going to try gettng out of way are now... Maybe not dne til saturday or sunday.
is the answer to this to do a hard reset? are there any other better browser apps which do not get ****ed after a time? (didn't this happen before in june/may and we had to hard reset?)


8-10 (different email)

Just turned my phone on and got your message

no, worse than ever .....because, i am guessing, of the cumlative effect of the past eight days, and now this mornings exposures.
thought it might stay cool in here but was wrong
opened door to get air in
but big truck went by
and it reeked like exhaust even before that so ......
Seems like turning my phone on to make calls was pointless.

i will still keep trying because we have to do this stuff.
Have a lot to discuss about the solar, but not right now....not doing well enough. Just know that i have abunch of questions (did last night) but not able to do it now.

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