The Knee Saga and Some Answers

10 December, 2014

I had my appointment with a knee doc today....it was not the one I was supposed to go to as I couldn't get in for another 6 days and besides I had seen him one other time and he was like fingernails running along a blackboard.....abrasive....Yes I want the best mechanic, but every ounce of my being was fighting me about going to him again but he was who my internist wanted me to see...."listen to my heart"

I put in a call to my boy's dad, Lorin and he had Irene call their internist and get the name of a different knee specialist....I took a chance and called the office on Monday to hear I couldn't get in until the 16th of January. The receptionist said she would put me on a cancellation list and then we continued to chat and were really giggling about something....during that time she said 'wait, you can come in on Wednesday at 10:30 as a cancellation just crossed the screen'. To say the least, I jumped at it as I was delighted to get in sooner. I really felt I was supposed to be there, too, as it was no coincidence that i was able to get in so soon. My leg had really been hurting the past 2 nights and I needed to take a codeine each night to get some sleep....taking drugs is not my favorite thing to do sooooo.....I figured I would see if he was any less abrasive and besides he had one heck of a pedigree from some MAJOR schools...just what I like to see....

I just got home from the doctor and he was absolutely lovely, perfect bedside manner, a very gentle and kind man. He explained everything and took a lot of fluid out of my knee to check it for gout and then gave me quite a whopping shot of cortisone which has slightly put me over the edge as far as nervousness. It is how I react to cortisone. Having the liquid taken off my knee certainly relieved the pressure but it makes it move in all sorts of different directions and that hurts. He told me to 'slow down' and to come back on Friday to get a shot of cortisone in my right knee because it is hurting from overcompensating. We are trying to take care of it without surgery at this time. ALSO, he is perfect because will do the surgery without giving me a general anesthesia. He said 'you do not have to be put under at all if I choose not to be'....a block would be used and my decision was made instantly that down the line he is my doctor....it is just one more of those examples of being in the right place at the right time as I was supposed to call last Friday....my Angels were surrounding me!!!!!

He was also very careful to tell me that cortisone can really mess with blood sugar levels and to be careful...no one has ever told me that before....I felt really squirrelly and out of breath for a few hours and am resting with my legs up and an ice pack on my knee...I was given strict instructions to 'slow down' as it not something I compute well....I have a cane and I was up to 2 miles, 2 days ago (not all at once)....that was a no no but my physical therapist said to keep active....funny....she cancelled for today and I have decided not to return unless my new knee doc says to....

All is well in my 'elder world'...I hope all is well in your worlds too.... much love

A Huge Dose of Reality

10 December, 2014

Chet and I decided to go to the movies this afternoon to see "The Theory of Everything" about Stephen Hawking's life. It was a beautiful movie, very touching, sad, funny.... After going to the same theater last night to see Interstellar, we saw it was 'Senior Day' on Monday so we thought we would participate. I am still reeling from my dose of reality.

My stomach is in a bit of a knot as many of my friends and I talk about how we are still, 'inside looking out' and we are the same people that we were years and years and years ago. There weren't a lot of people in the theater but when it was time to leave, I felt like I was leaving the senior home where I used to go to to visit my parents. (It was always a gut wrenching experience.) Everyone had a walker or a cane and in my head I didn't belong there....but all I have to do is look at my skin and it tells me that I am not 35 or 40 years old anymore.

I may be sporting purple and red colors mixed in with my gray hair which is very very long for someone my age and wearing my hand painted fedora. The problem being.....when it was time to stand up I could barely get out of my chair due to the fact that my knees were killing me. I finally got myself into a standing position and I pranced out of the theater because I decided I was not going to be a 'hobbler'.... I just cannot be a 'hobbler'.

I walked myself to the ladies room and out of the theater, down to the car and home we went. I must say, I told Chet that we would go to the movies on Tuesdays when the prices are the same as Senior Day because I found it too depressing.... I am trying to age gracefully.....

hmmmmmmmmm    I am in the ranks of the elderly in body only but not in mind. Have a wonderful day!!!!

Deep Breathe....Deep Breathe...

22 November month 2014

We just left the Pilot Truck Stop in Big Spring, Texas…..we are both trying to breathe deeply and lower our blood pressure….what an experience….some good, some a real source of aggravation….(nothing against Big Spring WC and Leslie)….

We pulled in and had to circle all of the pumps to get to the outside pump and lo and behold a sweet little mommy and daddy with an obviously sleeping child must have thought they were in the McDonald’s parking lot….grrrrrrrrrrrrr….we are angled in behind them in a very obvious position to get fuel…they get out of the car one at a time and open the back door as they goo goo over their little boy forever, I suppose waking him to go into Mc Donald’s which was attached to the truck stop….

We waited and waited…finally the mom picks the boy up and ambles over to McD’s while the dad watches…totally clueless that the gas station was full and there was another RV behind us waiting….it was like the first day of class on 'how to fill your car 101’… the steam started coming out of my ears and finally he decided to fill his car, during which time he gets back in his car and the pump clicks off…we sit and sit…I am not very mobile at all right now so I started the process of moving the pillows from under my leg, finding my shoes, opening the floor to get to the door to open it….he finally gets out of his car and goes to check his gas pump…finally full…now to pay….finally pays….AT LAST…we may get a chance….

Noooooo….he shuts his car door and starts walking to McD’s….I nicely shoved the door open and yelled in a soft and gentle voice, NOT, ‘would you PLEASE move your car?' and with this Chet , who very rarely lays on the air horn, gives it a blast and the guy turns around and looks all befuddled….I have learned over the years to temper my mouth considerably….boy was it difficult today. He starts to walk back to the car and gets in and then his wife comes out of McD’s nicely walks to the car, puts the boy back in, slowly buckles him up and then they remembered how to start the car and they left….still breathing deeply….

We were at a very bad angle and almost had to pull away as the back of the coach was precariously close to the concrete barrier protecting the pumps….I got out and Chet pulled forward at an angle but was still close enough to pump fuel…I hobbled in to the cashier and she said ‘I hope you are having a nice day’…..I made some gurgling sound and we smiled at each other….I managed to keep my mouth shut. I gave her my credit card for the $450.00 of fuel we needed…. and then I said to her with a smile, mind you, ‘have a nice day’….

Chet came and helped me back across the lot, as it was a sloooow pump, and it had been raining and there were glops of mud on the ground….we got our fuel and he told me he had spoken to the lady who was stuck beside us and she told him it took her 30 minutes before she could even get to a pump and it was the worst place she had ever been…. It was time to go BUT….the car was going to hit the concrete….even though he got the RV by it….having to unhook is a REAL pain in the arse so I added a bit of driving time to my 100 feet of backing down the driveway in Twillingate….we jockeyed the RV while I steered and Chet turned the wheels on the car as you can’t back up with the collapsable tow hitches on many RV’s….we did about 2 feet and then I would ease forward and Chet would turn the wheels on the car….we made about a 5 point ‘ease’ and cleared the concrete….ready to turn left and a Toyota Rav parks in front of where of where we had to go….smile more….breathe more….smile more….let cars by…smile more….let people walk by…smile more…and finally the Rav moved and we were on our way….OH BOY..

The good part of 'being exactly where you are supposed to be' was we missed the very red rain cells on our ‘My Radar” app that we were headed for…we had already been through a few and one crack of thunder made me jump in my seat…..the skies are clear and all WAS good…. A car hauler passed us and beeped and we couldn’t figure out what was going on….all we could see looked and felt perfect….when the cars finally started beeping Chet saw the one of the bay doors was open and nearly invisible as they go right up by the side of the coach….flashers on, slowed down and off at the next offramp to close it all up….

We are on our way again and had wanted to make it through Texas today but will have to see how it goes due to the delays….we were going to stop and have a meal with WC and Leslie and, if we had time, we were going to stop and see their daughter and their church they are remodeling into a “chouse”…darn….we are so sorry but I have a doctor’s appointment on Tuesday and my knee was aching so much last night I took a Tylenol and codiene….we had walked very slowly about 3 truck lengths last evening…it felt sooo good to be outside and not freezing…oh well,  We had a most wonderful visit with my brother and family…

At first we thought we were going to New York and D.C. to sightsee, but my knee took care of that and the huge freeze that hit the country….we changed our route from heading West farther north due to fear of ice and went to Charlotte, where we had planned on going around the beginning of December and having Brett meet us there….we stayed 3 nights at my brother’s and Lynne’s to visit and then 2 more to wait out the wind and rain…it dropped to 14 degrees there and broke a record…we were all toasty and warm and safe…safe was important…it was so great as I haven’t seen all 3 of their kids at the same time in years…Kimberly, Krissy and new hubby Jason(Mr. and Mrs Meyer) and David and even my grand niece, Evanne, who really does me proud, came in for the weekend from school…it couldn’t have worked out better if we had written a prescription…

It is starting to warm up and feels so nice not to be wrapped in layers of wool….I hate our forced marches across the country but we will try and plan differently next year. We are at the mercy of my knee right now but are heading to LALA Land for Turkey Day and I will get to see all 3 sons, wife, girlfriend, and my very grown up grandchildren and their cousin….that sounds sweet to me as I love their faces…. We were bound and determined to get out of Texas today but will have to see how my darlin’ holds up….

Our new kitten, Tuffy, has been a champ about the RV riding and seems to amuse himself almost anywhere…he is such a sweet little cat and has an amazing personality…we see a lot of our Twilly boy, we lost, in him which is nice…. aaaahhhhh a much needed rest area…. and clear skies ahead!!! My most exciting news is I am able to upgrade my phone as of today….woo hoo….not going to happen…not enough hours to spend doing it…. Be well and safe…we miss you and love you all!!!!! So sorry we couldn’t stop and see WC and Leslie… :( Breathing easier now….

Leaving Newfoundland After a 3 Year Absence

10 November month 2014

It is 11:53 am here and the sun just started blazing through the clouds….we are on our way to the ferry for a midnight crossing after our driving prayers and sending our Power Animals out to watch the roads for us….Chet is such a great ‘Wagon Master’….he always keeps his eye on the weather and picked the Monday night crossing as the best one…..actually a bit of Monday night and the rest Tuesday midnight to morning….

There were several days the ferries weren’t crossing due to the winds which were ferocious….I was in my chair in the bedroom yesterday and could feel the floor trembling from the wind…it blew like that for 3 days with gusts up to 130 km….Chet had to do all of the packing and prep work as I couldn’t take the chance of going out to help…I had only gone outside 3 times since I re-injured my knee a week ago Friday. We went to supper at R&J’s with our dear Joanne on Saturday night as the water was off and she was visiting us and doing some healing work on my knee when we all realized we were starving.

After supper the Hann family and the Legge family and Ted Stuckless all came by….what a gentle, sweet evening we had…the kids had a time exploring the house and whatever for a few hours…we all sat in our, what we call, 'studio apartment’ warm and toasty sipping tea and eating brownies and ice cream…the morning before, Dianne and Robin stopped by to say good bye and were the first to come and greet us when we arrived….we were sorry we missed Bonnie and the Dalley’s…..they were knocking and we never heard them when when they came in and yelled….we stay very insulated in our room/studio apartment.

We had been talking to Joanne earlier about the two kinds of lives we live….we could never explain to people who haven’t been here exactly what we mean as we can’t put it to words, very easily, what being a part of Newfoundland is like…besides being a slice of Paradise, the people are amazing, just amazing….there is a genuine kindness and open heartedness that we are not used to….in part, because our lives are so much wider….I mean the contrast to the Twillingate Island and New World Island and where we come from, just in size and the lack of need for interdependence to survive over the years….it has been an honour and a privilege to partake of this life.

The first year we were at the ferry stop in Nova Scotia, talking to a Newfoundlander and he told us how nice the people are….he then said, "ah, every once in a while you will run into a ‘Rube’"…and then had a good chuckle….it has been so true….it started the moment we got to the island and the men helped us ‘arc’ the solenoid to start the RV. We were going to Pippy Park and within 10 minutes of getting set up, someone was at out door with supper….we became friends with Ellen, who worked at the park and invited her to go out to supper with us. It was so sweet as her parents brought her and picked her up at the restaurant so they could meet us, the time we were lost and the man in his big Cadillac convertible heard us asking for directions and he told us to follow him as he led us right back to the park, waved good bye and went on his way and that was just in the first few days of 07….it has been like that time and time and time again….but yes, there is the occasional ‘Rube’….

Chet and sweet Barry Crane, (whose wife Marilyn, I am so sorry I missed saying ‘bye to)….winterized most of the house and Cottage…Chet finished it up yesterday as we stayed in the house and used buckets of water for whatever we needed….oh, what the heck…to flush the toilets and used bottled water to wash the last of the dirty dishes…etc….the wind was so crazy that Chet had to park into it so we didn’t lose a car door…he would hold tightly to me as one could easily lose their balance…. Chet would bring clothes, shoes, yarn and bags and bags of things in to me from the RV so I could go through them and then repack…we are not sure if we have more or less things with us….we found things we had completely forgotten about that had ridden with us for 3 years…fun, fun….

We just spent a couple of hours in Corner Brook….had some errands to do and wanted to use the wifi at Mickey D’s…..there is snow on the ground here and the wind prediction at the ferry has gone up a bit….eeeeeek There are few leaves on the trees so we get to see more of the miles and miles and miles of ponds, lakes, brooks, sea water, etc…it is so very breathtaking…. We saw 2 big somethings running along the side of the highway earlier…we are guessing Caribou as they were light-colored and had patches of brown…are we correct as we have never seen light colored Moose….

The 2 and 2/3 months we were here flew by….we just hung out after moving in, spending 16 days sick between the 2 of us, and my knee which just decided it had had enough after so many times injuring it….I was a fanatical exerciser….distance swimming, uphill running because I loved running down, and mountain bike riding….weight lifting….my knees have taken a bit of stress in my lifetime as I never knew when enough was enough….sometimes even now :)….sooooooo we are headed back to LALA Land to my doctor who will get me exactly where I need to be….the bad thing is I don’t think like an ‘Elder’ person and just la de da through life not imagining I AM older now and my body cannot lift heavier weights than some of the men working the circuit at the gym….you wouldn’t think I would puff up when I did that would you…HEH HEH…

...after arriving in Nova Scotia, it is a beeline South to try and get below the Polar storm that is expected with fury….will probably end up on I 10 or going by way of South America…kidding….last year it snowed all the way to the shore….sorry we will miss our East Coast plans but I guess we weren’t supposed to be there….we were pretty undecided re: New York and Washington D.C.(my birthplace) due to the unrest in the World right now, so not to worry….Sorry Kymm but we will find many special places for Tracey….we are honored….we will get our 1st photo to you soon…. :)

Saying goodbye to Marilyn Ashbourne is never easy and I would love to steal her and take her with us….she is such a dear lady. A friend of hers fell because of the wind and munched her hip some bad….she was going for surgery. We noticed how spry Marilyn was this year and walking with such ease and without a cane…she told us about gin soaked raisins….covering them and soaking them in gin for 10 days and then eating 10 a day helped her tremendously with her arthritis so we did it too….it helps so much with joint pain that it is amazing….too bad it doesn’t help torn whatevers…we also learned about sleeping with Ivory soap in our bed for leg cramps in Nova Scotia…it works for a couple of months and then stops so we put in new bars…all of the above can be Googled...

Well Newfoundland friends….we will see you next year and some family and some friends we will see you soon in the States…. Have a blessed day…. p.s…..Tuffy has been a champ doing fine with the traveling…he was just standing by me howling so I picked him up and he is very happy snuggling right now…you know how I hate that….NOT!! The other 2 have been keeping an eye on him…. …entering Wreck House now….so glad it is not blowing….`8-/ WE ARE AT THE FERRY LANDING…

Birthday Gone Awry...

16 September month 2014

……soooooooo the reason Brett had a miserable 2nd day of his Las Vegas trip and wanted to stay in bed instead of seeing his second show, spent 2 days in bed at Mitchell's house sleeping and sleeping, then looked horrible on Skype last night when he got back to his apartment, hardly having enough energy to make supper and patting his chest then going to bed at 7:00 pm.....calling me at 3:00 am, his time, coughing terribly and my telling him to drink warm water and go back to sleep....he called me at 8 am his time, had called the doctor, was in a cab at 10:00 am for a 1:00 pm appointment....they took him in at 11:30.....2 hours later he and the doctor called me to tell me he has pneumonia in his right lung....my champ knew he needed help....he is on 2 antibiotics and has to go back on Friday for a check-up....no work, no Karate for a while....I feel so bad for him....

Brett has been away with his dad twice in his life...the first time when he was young and Lorin and Irene took him to San Diego to do all of the touristy things there...I got a call of total panic from Lorin as Brett was throwing up, non-stop, all over the two hotel rooms....I mean non-stop....he asked me what to do and I said take him to the hospital immediately as vomiting and seizures do not mix well at all....he took Brett to the hospital and then called me and told me they were back at the hotel and he was still vomiting like crazy....I told him to get Brett back to the hospital immediately....Lorin was in a total panic so I jumped in the Red Cabriolet and literally flew down the freeway to San Diego....

I have no idea how I didn't get stopped but I was on a mission....that little rabbit really flew....I got to the hospital, took one look at Brett and knew he was going to be okay....I had to comfort Lorin....they had gotten a room for me to stay the night but I said no and went back to LA....needless to say, it has been about 30 or 35 years since Brett went away with his dad....I asked Lorin if he would take Brett away for his 40th birthday and he said he probably would...trip planned, first class ticket, a suite at the Mandalay Bay Hotel, Brett being packed for a week and looking so forward to a great time seeing a Michael Jackson Cirque du Soliel type show and then he was supposed to see an Elvis Show the night of his birthday....

Major overload as his brothers, wife and girlfriend show up for a surprise all in good fun....Brett rode with Mitchell and Siulan on an overnight trip and one thing he is NOT supposed to do is become sleep deprived on his new medication....you can guess the rest....

I think I will have to tell Lorin he is never allowed to take Brett away again...just kidding of course...how could that happen twice....not fair as it was hard on everyone....it probably, in hindsight, would have been better if it had just been Lorin and Irene and a low key trip....whould'a thought???????? Thank you to Lorin and Irene for a good try.....

Well, We Finally Moved into the House...

25 August month 2014

…geez, almost September….here I sit in my gorgeous home and only my hair and 9 of my fingertips don’t hurt….where is the ibuprofen…

I really haven’t had much of a chance to sit and write but here goes…we have been sleeping in the house for 2 nights, finally….

After a 5,000 mile trip…and being fall down tired, we had to drive to Grand Falls on Friday to take the cat to the vet….I drove the 2 hours there and Chet drove home….it is not easy as my eyes watch for all of the normal things we look for but constantly scanning for Moose is quite an added burden…they’re soooo big…please, someone tell me why we didn’t stop on our way by there on Thursday….we figure exhaustion…

We brought the cats in the house on Saturday and Skipper was totally overwhelmed…Moose ran around like a kitten, rolling and rubbing all over the floor, crying and crying…he did want out but we think he was also looking for Twilly…. :( :(…. Skipper had great expectations of getting in the “Village”…so far, some VERY firm no’s have worked wonders….Skipper is finally feeling better and is “back” to his old silly self….

Randy and Tracey Hann came over for a visit Friday night and it was soooo good to see them…we sat in the house for a while and then went out to the RV for snacks and coffee…it was comfy and a long awaited visit with a whole lot of laughs….it was a gas!!!!

#1 thing to do was to get the water running and for me to vacuum up all of the dead bugs that had accumulated in at least the bedroom and bathroom…uuuuugh….the water was turned on at the street on Friday and we had all of the appropriate places covered, we thought….yes, cold water, flushing toilets, filling water heaters….all going well until I heard water coming out of the washer spigot….turned off and cleaned up…no biggie….then I hear a waterfall and water was pouring out of the ceiling above the cabinets that hold the downstairs water heater, and beside it, somehow miraculously
missing the tv….it was almost circling it...all over the shelves in the living room with our beautiful old books, oil lamps and my grandma’s china pieces….one teacup filled to overflowing….many oversized bath towels later and books and old records spread out over two rooms and 2 dehumidifiers running full speed ahead….it is dry now, 3 days later, and Chet just came in to tell me the washer is spewing water….this is a drag…

We finally got into the cabin on Saturday after getting the keys back from Randy and Tracey….once again we were stunned at how picture perfect it is and what a view…if you sit in my favorite chair it looks like you are on a ship as all you see is water out the window and the french doors….we are definitely going to go ‘away’ and spend a night or 2 there this year….curtains or not!!!!

I was saying last night, moving in to Brett’s apartment, moving out and now moving in here and then having to move out is a LOT of work and very tiring….somehow we are going to find time to just relax which we don’t do that often.

Saturday night we went to listen to Ada sing and it was so calming. We saw several friends and lots of hugs were exchanged….how warm and sweet.

Yesterday was gorgeous and we went for a drive….just soaked in the sights and saw a small iceberg in Herring Neck…so we did get to see our ‘berg’. We stopped and saw our friend Kellie for a while and then we stopped and ate our little lunch we packed, went to the grocery store, and then home to start cutting the grass…I love to mow the lawn…I was first, running the weed whacker and never realized how hard it is to do …it always looked so easy….Barry Crane came over and helped Chet get the mower to start and I was off and running tackling the 5th summer of no mowing….Chet would have to come and restart me and the mower several times while he was cleaning up around the back steps and the area between the garage and the stable so we could park the RV somewhere besides in front of the back door….I mowed and mowed until I was ready to fall down…what an experience under the gorgeous sun with the sea right in front of me….friends stopping with freshly picked blueberries….thank you Eddie and Linda and Bernie…I sat on the front steps and picked currants off of the bush there…

We came in and couldn’t move for quite a while, drank water and finally mustered up the energy to cook supper….deeeeelicious red, yellow, and orange bell peppers, onions, and italian sausage and baked potatoes….pure hunger was pushing us as we were physically hurting….it has been 3 years since using a free standing oven and I burned my finger….just enough to hurt….we ate our dinner, watched tv and crawled into bed…until a horrible cramp in my leg woke me….oh my….Chet went to find a bar of Ivory soap and couldn’t get the package open, I was squalling, so he just put all 10 bars under the back of my knee….the cramp went from my foot all the way to my stomach….the soap started to ease it immediately but it took about 10 minutes for it to stop….I was pouring water into myself as fast as I could….you can google ‘bar soap leg cramps’

Gotta’ go run a lot of errands now so I will say “later”…

…may your day go well...

if I can move….30% speed will do….crazy me wants to get back and mow the lawn some more….

oh, the most important thing….we got to use the bathtub….and it was not a tannin colored bath….clear Twillingate water….

Home...

21 August month 2014

......we finally arrived after a beautiful drive through the forests and by the ponds, over some gorgeous rushing rivers and along the ocean. Oh my it was some gorgeous.

We pulled in the driveway to 4 years of uncut lawn as we only trimmed around the edges the last time we were here as I love the natural beauty....right now there being way too much of that as everything is completely grown over. Several of our trees are alive but many didn't make it. Only the heartiest of things survive here. I haven't actually taken an exact count yet. We sat for a bit and looked at the peeling paint not loving it too much....the back field was blowing in the wind and was as high as the fence. We donned our heavy jackets and finally ventured in for a 'look see'.....

Chet opened the door and in we went.... My hands first over my mouth as I was muttering oh my god over and over again....I stood in the kitchen and just stared in awe and disbelief.....I kept saying I can't believe it, I can't believe it....I was as overwhelmed as others must feel when they walk in for the first time....being out of the life I have lived for sooooo long was shocking to me. I could barely drink in what was there....

When we stepped into the dining room I immediately walked to the china closet and touched, ever so gently, my mother's china, the plates, the tea cups and my eyes filled with tears....I turned and started to take in what else was hanging from the walls and sitting everywhere....what was inside the glass front cabinets, the table and chairs....everything....old locks, keys, bottles, tools, etc., etc., etc....I put my hands over my face and said, "Chet, I can't do it, I can't let it go"....he gently held me and told me not to worry....we went into the living room and sat down and just talked for a while as my eyes went all around the room and stopped at my grandmother's china pieces and the owls with the glass eyes, that I got from one of my rentals in Oregon, that were sitting in the beautiful marble fireplace. "Oh my gosh, Chet came out of my mouth again....

We were soooo exhausted and wanted to go across the garden and see Marilyn before it got dark so I turned on a few lights and we went over for tea. What a bittersweet and lovely visit...no Gordon... His pillows still in his chair....sweet Marilyn telling us it is some lonely without him and how she stood on the deck of our cabin across the street while the family put Gordon's ashes in the water. There will always be a part of him there for all of us....we were honored.

We had our tea and went home again....I did a little vacuuming and looked at 3 years of dust and bugs....ick!

Hunger took over and we went out to the RV to make supper so we could collapse. We heard voices, we had visitors....Dianne and Robin Vatcher came by to welcome us home....we were so touched and the scared little girl in me felt so much better....it will forever be appreciated!!!

They left, we ate and had to go to bed.... We had only put out the bedroom slide so sleeping would be easier.....

I will sign off for now and tell you about our fun filled day today when I write again tomorrow....

Blessings

Finally on 'The Rock'

21 August month 2014

The most adorable thing about this trip is how precious my hubby is….he is totally manic and has been a constant stream of chatter since he woke up this morning….I love it and am also grateful that he is not like me who can be like this several times a day and just the opposite…morose….

I know we had said we were going to make this trip calmly and not push too hard….’eating the elephant one bite at a time”…we really did well for most of the 12 days it took to get here….once we did it in 9 days….maybe I was doing some of the driving at that time…but, I did drive 38 miles one day out of the 5,000, just checking to see if I could still do it in case of an emergency and also to see if I could really help…weeeeellllll, I can drive this baby perfectly, easily and as straight as an arrow but the abject terror is not worth it so there you go….

As we got closer, the miles per day increased and we would do our usual drive, he would sleep and drive again, no matter what time…driving through Maine was much like here with many “Watch For Moose” signs…it makes for a lot of tension.

We sailed through the border crossing again with the least welcoming person yet, but he was in work load or sexually frustrated or perhaps constipated….did I just say that???? Yup!!!! C’mon, a little levity is always important.

We drove all the way to the ferry and arrived at 2:30 am Wednesday morning and had a bit of fun with wifi and then crashed. Chet had to take 2 Bonine as his eyes and equalibrium started to bother him just as we pulled into the lot to wait for the ferry…all he can do is sleep in the dark when that happens…we were wakened in the morning to prepare to get on the ferry for the 11:45 am crossing…he was still out of it a bit so it was a good thing all he had to do was drive on and park…we had reserved seating in the middle of the ship so he wouldn’t be next to the window. We usually cross at night and I decided we would do that in the future as I do not like watching the water….it was a relatively good crossing but…I still don’t like it….

I can hardly explain how tired we were on the ferry…there were only 63 passengers on a ship that holds close to 600….4 of us were in the reserved seating…that was a pleasure…all of the people were on the night crossing, as we were supposed to be, as the largest ferry that usually makes the 15 hour trip to Argentia was going to Port Aux Basques to refuel soooo I guess they like to ride on it….we have a few other times but were too excited to wait until the 11:45 pm crossing…also, I figured the cats may sleep more in the daytime than the night as they LOVE to get themselves into trouble at night. We have to remember that Moose is used to the long hauls and is in his homeland now but Skipper has only traveled from Arizona to Oregon in short legs…I can’t say he is really enjoying it….

So, as soon as we get to the border, someone graciously stopped and let us make a turn and then at the first stop we made a trucker pulled up beside us and smiled and waved…yes, we were in Canada…you certainly don’t enjoy that kind of gentleness in the States…you don’t need to say…’so stay there’….but the difference is palpable…we know we are in Newfoundland now as everyone has to talk and it is so sweet….we were talking to a couple at the Visitor Center, in Corner Brook, who had never been here before so we were telling them about the beautiful spot beside and behind the Walmart to take pictures of world class scenery…they were really sweet and on their way out of the parking lot they had a little fender bender and we felt really bad…guess all was okay as they parted amicably…with no info changing hands.

We were blotto at the Visitor's Center but there was a dump and potable water there so we wanted to shower….poor Chet had to sleep before he could muster up the energy to even do that…we never even had supper. We had some sketchy wifi but I was too tired to mess with it much….sleep, and sleep we did…oh soooo tired.

It was very different getting off the ferry this time of year…we usually come just after winter and everything is very bleak and that is a complimentary word.…yesterday we got off to beautiful fields of yellow and pink flowers, green shrubs and grasses everywhere, the trees looked happy and it has been like that all along the road. We also had a big honking’ moose wander onto the highway, look around and then saunter off to the other side…we figured seeing one was enough…all of the truckers with their moose lights and moose guards on their vehicles. Even if we had been awake enough to drive last night, we wouldn’t have due to the fear of meeting a moose….my sweetest told me this morning we would probably drive again next year, as we did this year, because he felt the past three years of tension and stress was more than I deserved so he wasn’t going to make it any worse. Now that is LOVE!!!! and soooo deeply appreciated.

It is so neat to see all of the cars along the road and people picking berries…also cutting wood and loading up for the winter.

I was so out of it, this morning, that I nicely took my 2 white pills I take every morning and then went back to my pillbox later to get another thing. I opened it to realize that they were not my pills….I had bought a new pill box and mixed my green one up with Chet’s, fortunately, vitamin box which is a close blue…I took 2 of his glucosamine instead of my Metformin….hmmmmmm…won’t do that again.

There is sooooo much water we drive by and realize all of the rivers and “ponds”…lakes are snow and rain fed as the island is all rock. Amazing amounts of water are everywhere and it is magnificent.

We should get to the house around 6 pm Newfoundland time…4 1/2 hours later than the West Coast, and hope for a happy day tomorrow when we get the water turned on and the cable and wifi hooked up. We can’t wait to see our neighbor, Marilyn Ashbourne, who has looked for us for 3 years…she is such a darling….we will have to mow a new path to her house after probably having to drive the car through the field several times. Tomorrow our longest Newfoundland friends, Randy and Tracey Hann….just lots and lots of hugs and great fun...then on Saturday night off to listen to listen to Ada sing….

We are so happy to be here…it has been such a long 3 years…we just hope there are a couple of lobsters left for at least one meal…signing off for now

Two VERY happy people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some Lives Saved...

16 August month 2014

This was a morning we were able to help avert a possible tragic situation….I want to say that now so you know we were not in danger….

….sometimes we are EXACTLY where we are supposed to be at the right moment….

We spent the night at the travel plaza with the truckers last night….there actually was an RV area where we went first but our rig was too long so we pulled over with the ‘real‘ rigs…LO...we watched some tv and then off to bed around 2:00 am….a great sleep until 9:30…

We saw we could get potable water at the RV area, last night, but Chet was too tired soooo this morning we went to the plaza and asked how we could get back over to the water seeing there were one- way signs everywhere….not kidding ones!!!! The girls told us to go ahead and go, watch for the trucks as they fly on the off ramp and not to worry as the police had just left….

I walked towards the water area and Chet went back for the RV….it was okay as there was a bus area we could have pulled into if needed….all was clear and he went into the area against the do not enter signs that I mentioned were everywhere….he turned around and we got our water….all finished and ready to pull back into the main lot which took us across the off ramp road….this time in the right direction….

Here comes an”elderly” couple (remember, I can say that now as I, too, am one). They were pulling a trailer and they start heading out along the OFF ramp for the cars and trucks, RV’s and anything on wheels into oncoming traffic ….Chet laid on the horn and we waved and Chet continued tooting the air horn which is far louder than a toot…they finally figured we were trying to tell them something….we waved them back and pointed for them to come in where we were so the “elderly” man backs up a bit and starts to turn in and then stops to try and talk with us with his trailer sideways across the OFF ramp…he then starts to mention he was trying to get gas….Chet started yelling for him to move off the OFF ramp and get in where we were….finally….when he got in a safe area we told him we would lead him over to the fuel….which we did but they were the big islands as the car fuel was still in a wrong way area and the man couldn’t figure out that all he had to do is pull into the empty truck area right in front of him….we followed him as he was still trying to figure out how to get to the car area….we were trying to flag him to the other pumps….he gave up and eventually got back on the freeway….whew!!!! I think...

We have to say thank you to the ‘powers that be’ that we were there at that moment….

I don’t have fond memories of the Ohio Turnpike anyhow….it is where our remote control door opener decided to stop working our last trip along here, on a weekend, and Ohio AAA didn’t come onto the turnpikes to help, even though we pay extra for RV coverage….it took 4 hours, a slightly bent door and we are sure the reason for the broken seal in our double paned thermal window which causes it to fog up….a nice kid who wouldn’t leave us stranded….we were able to get the $400 back from the Oregon AAA. This trip we have Coach-Net roadside assistance...

We are at the next travel stop now to make breakfast….Chet said we passed the “elderly” couple and we are looking to see if they come in here….

Chet just said "now we have first-hand knowledge of how the wrong way freeway accidents happen”….and I thought I would share it with you!!!!

thank you God…..

It was a Good Day Today

15 August month 2014

We woke up at 7:05 this morning after going to bed after 2:00 am....we are totally giddy from sleep deprivation and ended up staying in bed this morning for about 2 hours futzing on Facebook...including communicating on there with each other....we finally got up and Chet made some coffee....I am all grown up now and am drinking 'real' coffee....an interesting thing I discovered is that it doesn't bother my stomach like decaf does….also, since I drink water 97% of the time it is nice to have a change and it counts as water consumption and it is supposed to be good for women and for one's memory....I have fallen in love with Peaberry coffee from Trader Joe's so we have to get a case before we go to Twillingate...we also need rice cakes, rice cereal, gluten free pizza, a few cases of Almond milk and if we can find boxed Coconut milk....not water....I will be a happy girl....fortunately we don't have to stock up for our usual 5 to 6 month stays....

Oooooooohhhhh sometimes it tears me up knowing we are going to sell our beautiful home, Faerie house, my dollhouse...my dream house that we never really finished moving into....now to pack again and since I am really interested in 'tiny houses' I will have to seriously think about how all of my treasures are going to fit...ha ha....I want a 500 sq. ft. 1 room house with a bathtub and a large deck with an inside and outside kitchen....and rose bushes, tulips, lavendar, and wisteria a necessity....I really want my bathtub/shower from Twillingate but I don't see that happening whine, whine....so if any of our friends or family (right) wants to come see us it hopefully will be next year....

My right knee is feeling some better and I tried wrapping my left knee in the large bandage that Chet's $6,000 visit to emerg got us...also the knowledge that he did not have a blood clot....thank goodness for insurance....anyhow....sidetracked again....the wrapping has helped so much and for that I am thankful!!!! Here's hoping it continues to heal....

Lots of traffic in Illinois and some crappy freeway in between the road work. We are traveling by computer and GPS and it is so different than having a map in front of you....we have so little perspective of where we are. We remembered yesterday about our friends Sue and Jerry Little being on our route and also forgot my sweet Cynthia, my dear friend that I can call at any given moment and tell her anything and she will have a great story to share with me....we came from the same cookie cutter as did my Pequena....Cynthia and I can catastrophize about the strangest things....she is an ER nurse who has moved up the ladder very well to Patient Relations so she is a great one to talk to when a medical fantasy is in my mind which happens more often than I would like to admit....I really adore her....sorry we are not going to see her children but they are with their dad this weekend....5 hours and 59 minutes til we meet her....

We just got into our first Eastern traffic jam and hit the first toll road....it is such a rip off....twice as much if you pay in cash....driving East it is so crowded as if we were in Los Angeles or the freeway going North in Portland....we just went over the hugest quarry I have ever seen....except for the Queen Anne Mine in Bisbee, Arizona which is a seemingly endless open pit copper mine that we camp on the edge of when we are there....Bisbee has the cutest rv park in town that is made up of vitage trailers and a couple of boats that people can rent to sleep in but that is not where we stay....there is even a diner there...what a cute town....why, I have even visited the emerg there for a $1,200 tetanus shot, a prescription for antibiotics, a band aid and some small packet of antibiotic cream....one of my old boy cats we had bit my hand as I starteled him or hurt him when I picked him up....he was as surprised as I was and he hit a vein that was pumping blood straight up in the air like a fountain....it was pretty fascinating to me but not to Chet as he was in a panic, I think for me. I watched in amazement and then when I assured Chet I was okay he went outside franticly trying to find out where a hospital was....I yelled to him and told him I had seen a sign with a big blue H and not to worry....first, we wrapped my hand and then cleaned the carpet and my shoes....It was pretty funny at the time....once again thank goodness for insurance....

Just bought fuel again as we are getting it at around $300 increments so it won't hurt so much....we left Illinois and are in Indiana now along with lots of stop and go traffic and nasty billboards everywhere....they are big into advertising their strip clubs....

I have a really pretty glass and bell wind chime hanging between the bathroom and the bedroom and it has such a soft tinkle tinkle sound that I intermittently hear....it is really soothing....

4 hours until I see my friend Cinny...are you getting the feeling that I am excited!!!!

We are so close to Lake Michigan and there is a good chance we won't even see it. We could go up into Canada and past Hamilton area but we don't want 3 trips through customs. We have always had an easy time in Maine so here's hoping....

It is now 10:39 pm and we just entered Ohio sooooo we have been in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,and now in Ohio and are on the toll roads. It wouldn't be as bad if the roads were at least decent...they are the worst and a lot of money when you are driving your house down the road.

Cynthia met us at Walmart at 7:00 and we had such a woderful visit...It has been at least 3 years ince we stayed with her last or maybe even longer....she looked absolutely beautiful and it is like we never skipped a beat....sorry we didn't get to see Jack and Annie who are 9 and 12 now....we have known each other for 20 years and she has also been like a daughter to me....I wish we had time to have stayed with her for a while....oh sigh....it was not fun saying goodbye. We had a great chat about my realization I am "elderly" and she says she is "late middle age" now....it is pretty funny as we aren't at all.

We are pulling into a service plaza to spend the night now.....that is what they are called on the toll roads....I think we will be able to get water at one of them tomorrow as we need to fill our tank....they even had electric hookups for $20.00 a night but we don't need it as our generator will do us fine.

I am signing of now....sleep well and pleasant dreams….XOXO

So As to Not Inundate You with Short Posts...

14 August month 2014

I have a lot of time to post things so I thought I would write a muze instead….

We woke to a gorgeous day in the York, Nebraska Rest Area….the air was so fresh and cool and the earth was so damp and fresh….we haven’t seen wet earth in well over a year….we walked a bit and then checked all of the pertinent things on the vehicles and off we went….I could feel the anxiety well up as we went onto the freeway as if I was still driving….it took hours to have the adrenaline pass through my being last night….

It was time for bed, and a police car came into the rest area so I, ‘Nancy Grace II’, as Chet calls me….his investigative reporter…. naturally had to stand and watch for more than an hour, go to bed and then get up again to watch some more as the driver was thoroughly frisked and handcuffed. Two other Sherrif arrived shortly and the sniffer dog was brought over to the car and then the woman who was also in the vehicle was taken out. EVERY thing and inch of the auto was being searched and things were being bagged….I finally gave up and got into bed around 2:30….I feel a nap coming on today.

We are in Iowa now after a stop for fuel in Lincoln, Nebraska and a stop at our favorite….Costco’s luncheonette….we bought a few things and are on the road again. Boy, there is an awful lot of roadwork going on….funny, I have not asked to drive yet…LOL

After all of our lengthy trips across Nebraska, all of the jokes, and the dread of the drive….it turned out to be absolutely beautiful….corn as ‘high as an elephant’s eye’, miles and miles of it, green fields, lots of cows, and a field for buffalo that were no where to be seen. It was truly gorgeous and now Iowa much the same but more rolling hills…. It also has cooled down a bit. We are just ahead of a storm front….

I finally got the sofa recovered with other blankets last night as I was still shuddering from that morning's experience….

Life on the road certainly has to be a partnership, particularly when the slides are not out….food prep, dishwashing, cooking has to be done in a production line fashion. Sleeping can be problematic as we usually stay at a rest area or a Walmart parking lot. We don’t bother to level up so we sometimes have to sleep at the foot of the bed or put a pillow at our back so we won’t roll out of bed….it is all good, tho….we wouldn’t opt for anything different yet.

I hurt my knees, we think last Friday, and I could barely walk on Saturday….it isn’t fair….I finally got my back okay enough to walk after a year of PT between Portland and Los Angeles and then my 'Balance Institute’ exercises helped so much so we were picking up the distance of our walks….I don’t know what I did to myself but sometimes it makes my stomach turn over to take a step….we have been slowly walking short distances as I feel some activity is better than none….I just wish they would feel better.

My 5 avocado pits are happily riding on the dash and the one that had somehow survived the squirrels desecration is sprouting new little branches where the cute little tree WAS growing. One more is almost ready to send up a sprout….I have this need to constantly be ‘mothering’ something….you don’t have to put toothpicks in the pits and set them in water….all they need is a pot of well watered dirt….oh, and in optimum conditions 8 years to produce fruit….chuckle….

We are at a rest area and are going to undertake a shower….heat up the water, empty all of the things stored in the shower and have at it….oh joy….clean hair!!!!

TTYL

I’m back, all clean and coconut oiled….my hair loves it….another great Costco find….

We just pulled into another rest area with dump facilities….it is really nice to find them as a lot of places have shut them down….I 80 has had them all along the way….this time we pulled in on the correct side to be able to use it….

Chet is rolling through Iowa as we have plans to meet some friends from the road for coffee around 8:30 or 9:00 pm….Sue and Jerry Little….soooo looking forward to it!!

I was just reading CNN on my phone about the couple who were on the 15 “most wanted” list….they were cornered and apprehended on Tuesday afternoon in the Jantzen Beach Shopping Center directly across the street from the Jantzen Beach RV Park where we have stayed ever since we started traveling….we walked there all the time as it is a huge outdoor place….Target, Home Depot, etc….that would have been much more exciting than my investigation last night!!!

Everyone be well….Twillingate here we come!!!!

Lessons Hard Learned

12 August month 2014

I had been writing a muze and I usually do them in an email….soooooo for the first time Firefox crashed and my muze, which was in 'Facebook Notes' this time, went away and is floating around somewhere but not on the frigging page called NOTES….won’t do that again….guess I was supposed to start over….grrrrr….

….since I started a few hours ago, more has transpired including our being at our 5th rest stop by 12:30 pm….pit stops, small walks, and the absorbing every moment we have been in the mountains in Wyoming. The terrain is absolutely beautiful and we are stockpiling for the "Great Plains” trek….we are at 6,000 feet + or -….we saw a momma Antelope with her twins skittering near one of the stops. Natch I couldn’t get to the camera fast enough….I just checked and may have one short video of them far away….hey, we got it….

Last night we stayed at Echo Canyon Rest Area at the edge of Utah….we went out for a walk for a while and I imagined one person who was sitting at a table was a murderer….it was nice when he got in his truck and left….Chet reminded me that we were perfectly safe and that my mind is entirely too busy.

There were many bats out feeding on the gazillion bugs hovering around the lights…he was fascinated with them so we stood and watched them for quite a while….he had never seen so many at one time. He, being the dear he is, was enjoying himself so much that I stood and pretended I was a very brave person for as long as I possibly could.

It was so beautiful out last night and the air was just delicious….I was trying out my sore knees to see if I could walk and I actually did, slowly, and felt better enough to take 2 short walks already, today….here’s hoping.

I was up this morning MUCH earlier than I like but Chet wanted to get out of the canyon as there were thundershowers predicted….7:30 am and I decided to sit in my seat with a pillow and my favorite little snugly throw. I am all tucked in and comfy and off we go….

Next, I hear this guttural yowl from Moose and thinking he is going to heave, I grumble and turn around in my chair to see Skipper taking out after Moose, who is on the back of the sofa. Skipper is all puffed up and hissing at Moose….I thoroughly enjoy their tussles, but not when there are guttural noises coming out of one of them. I was not at all ready to take chase to catch Moose if he took off. Out of the corner of my eye I see a mouse with all 4’s straight up and I let out quite a pitiful whine/yell, demanding in no uncertain terms, that Chet stop immediately. That being a bit unreasonable as we are 40 feet on the outside towing a car totaling 58 feet (of which I am acutely aware as that is what we pay for on the ferry our way to “The Rock”) and driving up a canyon which included road work….

There I sit frozen, willing those cats to within an inch of their lives, not to dare move an inch….I was not looking forward to having one of them taking their treasure under our bed to be lost with everything else we lose that is easily taken by a cat.

Whine I did, as Chet is telling me how ‘close’ the next rest area was….falling on my instantly deaf ears, I nicely told him that was totally unacceptable as I am not at all enthralled by creature on my sofa, that could have very well been with my feet if I had chosen to lie down or better yet it could have been stuck to the throw I was all snuggled in….Chet wisely chose the very first area where the shoulder of the road was wide enough to pull over and save his 'damsel in distress’. He nicely put it down the toilet which really bothers me that it is floating in the holding tank….why didn’t one of us just open the door which was ever so much closer and let him flip it outside….it probably had a lot to do with being on the shoulder of the road!!!

Once again we stopped at a rest area and one hardly ever sees a dump station at a rest area but there was one there. I could not insist that he dump a relatively freshly dumped tank at that time….soooo I had to go for a walk to get the negative chemicals to start working their way through my body as I still shudder every time I think of the whole incident….we made lunch and actually sat outside at a picnic table which we rarely do….we then shook out the blanket and wadded it up to shove away as I had no intention of sitting on the sofa until that was done. Needless to say, there are several more to choose from to put back on the sofa….

I still have the feeling in my body/mind of the time we were in a motel in Boulder Colorado with my former husband and two little boys, before Brett was born and he is soon to be 40 years old. I slid into the cool bed and when my feet got to the bottom I felt this fleshy thing and threw back the covers, while probably alerting everyone else in the motel that I was there. Aaahhhhh there was a sizable spider in my bed and I cannot tell you what an arachnophobe I am….c’mon, it is over 40 years ago and I still feel it and don’t even like to go through Boulder Colorado…..(I am rereading the muze now to post it and I just shuddered as I read this paragraph).

My darling, whom my son Mitchell calls “Chetapedia” because he seems to have information on almost anything that is mentioned, has always tried to figure out about my weirdly wired ganglia. He is always amazed how I react to things with such strange mind/body experiences….he just laughs and shakes his head. He said it runs along with synesthesia, but I don’t see numbers in color….I was Googling it and reading about all of the forms it takes when my Firefox crashed and I lost the first muze I had been writing. What a fascinating search as I finally have some words to some of my reactions to so many things….we are never too old to learn more about ourselves if we choose….I feel much wiser now and also understand, better, my empathic nature for one thing and what goes on in an artist’s head….

We will be to our next rest area in 25 miles….at the last one we walked and I think we are trying for all of them across Wyoming….we are just passing over the 7,000 foot Continental Divide….onward to the Atlantic. It is starting to cloud up a bit now. We are pulling into our favorite truck stop place now instead of the rest area….Flying J here we are….to spend inordinate amounts of money on fuel.

You have a blessed day and a special call out of love and support to Leslie, WC and Randy Earnst…XOXO

On the Road With My Thoughts...

11 August month 2014

….we just reentered the freeway as we were going through Boise, Idaho and a whole lot of road construction….cones, cement barriers, etc….every RVer's nightmare….Chet was following the road and all of a sudden the freeway was headed off to the left….we were on the offramp to the truck by-pass…pretty funny but probably a stroke of luck….that 'being exactly where we are supposed to be’ as we ended up back on the freeway past all of the construction and 1 mile from our rest area….

Chet just took one of his power naps (which always amaze me)… he will lie down, go to sleep for ten minutes and wake all refreshed and ready to go….I offered to drive yesterday which he respectfully declined and it was a good premonition as there was a ‘gusty winds for the next 50 miles’ sign just as we left the rest area….I just offered again and fortunately he declined again….he likes to drive and listen to ‘books on CD’s’….my mind wanders too fast to concentrate on them so I busy myself with other things….

There is soooo much land out here….a lot of “res” land which seems so unproductive….signs at the rest stops document the the plight of the emigrants as they came along the Oregon Trail….it always tugs at my heart as so many tribes were wiped off of the face of the Earth….right now the “Christian Genocide” happening….genocide in Africa and the Middle East, and reminds me of the Holocaust that some like to believe never happened….fortunately my ancestors on my daddy’s side were sent from Minsk and my past husband’s family came from there, too, or I may have not been able to experience this life….my husband thinks I was at one time in one of the ‘death camps’ as a little girl and to him it helps explain my idiosyncratic behavior….I look out of the window and see the wild ponies, buffalo and the Indians galloping across the plains….I have heard the cries of death at the forts and battlefields we have visited.

We left this time and what I am feeling, and have been since we drove away from the park in Portland, is a feeling of elation and relief….usually I leave places with fear, anxiety and sadness….I feel the relief from 3 years of continual care taking….never having a blank page. I feel no regrets, as being able to help the ones we helped and loved was a gift….the pain inexplicable but a gift to be able to be there….Brett is so improved on his new meds that we are startled over and over at the expressions and the quality of speech that is coming out of him….for him it is a glacial change….

We are not on one of our forced marches to Newfoundland…we will take the travel as it comes and not push to exhaustion and this is a nice feeling. It is funny, it has been so long since we have been on an extended trip that we have to relearn certain things about living in an RV down to flushing the toilet….we hope the servicings, tire checks, sealing of cracks and screws, our new wonderful refrigerator, my quiet, faster, new beautiful all in one washer/dryer combo will carry us well once again.

A dear friend wrote about ‘getting old’ on FB the other day….it was interesting….my head is still who I am but my body is certainly suffering the ravages of time….we had a great time at the water aerobics classes in Portland….except for the trip from the pool to the shower at 9 p.m. …..chatter, chatter. We have been walking and had picked up the distance and I was so excited….several nights ago I must have slept with my knees in an awkward position and have hardly been able to hobble for about 3 days….we were able to slowly walk a bit at the rest stops last night and this morning but I will not trust myself to get up while we are moving….I know my right knee is not in good shape but it didn’t really bother me so the doc said to leave it alone for now….it hurts in the front and now my left knee hurts in the back….hopefully ibuprofen and sitting will help them heal as I am so looking forward to some beautiful hikes on the island…also berry picking which are ripening now. I even brought coconut flour and gluten free flour to make myself some goodies….

We are putting it out to the Universe that the house will be up for sale to pre qualified buyers and hope we will sell it in the next year or so….it is a hard decision but it is just too far away and we want to cut back on obligations….we had also dreamed of our family enjoying it as we do….just to gaze upon the clarity of the water from behind the cabin….
it is an experience that we will NEVER forget….the inexplicable beauty and the loveliness of the friends we have made….another of life’s gifts!!!!

We are 529 miles into our trip now and I am drinking in all of the hills, quasi mountains, streams, rivers, trees and bits of uneven terrain before we hit Wyoming and Nebraska…we just went over a little canyon….

Have a wonderful day and we will, too….

Blessings…..

Muze....What a Rude Awakening....lol

10 July month 2014

…We found ourselves sitting at McDonald's this morning at around 9:15 am….that is a rude awakening to me as it is not wakey wakey time in my world!!!!!

What is even worse is that it has been 2 days in a row, as I had to go to the eye doc yesterday morning and today we dropped the RV off to have its yearly servicing….we were EXACTLY on time….

…..soooooo, there was a McD right at the corner down from the truck service company, so we had coffee, an electric socket to charge my phone and free wifi…like hitting the jackpot….we shall see how I do on a whole large cup of coffee….it may prove interesting….

Right now we are crossing into Washington to have the tire pressure sensors on our Jeep tires reset, as we got a new battery and they are not reading…how to fill a day in the Jeep with 3 tired people and two cats shut in the bedroom and bathroom of the RV….crazy Skipper will spend the day under the bed in abject terror and Moose hopefully will snooze….we asked them to turn on the generator later so it can cool down in the coach, as the dark brown just sucks up the sun and heat which is heading towards 90 degrees today…

After that, back to Costco as the beautiful peaches we bought yesterday are all pithy inside and tasteless….what a disappointment when I bit into it last night for my dessert…we ate dinner at Costco last night…a veritable feast….we bought a roasted Costco chicken for Chet and Brett, and then we had grape leaves, hummus, and quinoa tabouli….mmmm delicious….
It is now 11:00 am and it is amazing what can be accomplished when one starts the day early….ha ha….

Last Friday I was cleaning my teeth and out popped a crown….I had it glued in on Monday and it has hurt ever since….please keep all of your fingers crossed….NO ROOT CANAL PLEASE….

Brett, our sweet Brett….after my latest of sooooo many calls to Brett’s neurologist on Monday….he suggested we give him his evening pill at 6:00 pm instead of later as it can cause insomnia ( I think I have every side-effect memorized)….it also can cause indigestion which he was having terrible bouts of….I must say it has worked perfectly as we were out last night and he didn’t get his pill until 9:30 and had a hard time getting to sleep….we have also made different sleeping arrangements which have worked out well.

We decided to give Brett our bed so we could close the door and we could still have the ‘run‘ of the rest of our space until we were ready to go to bed….my dear friend, who is a superb nurse and administrator, confidant, and as crazy regarding ‘catastrophizing' as I am, mentioned “Sundowner’s Syndrome” which, as the day wears on, people who have a regiment, get very disoriented when their world is rocked….and rock we did to Brett’s world….we are on day 4 of having Brett ‘back’ and his beautiful smile ….

We have been going to water aerobics at the RV park and I must say it is sooooo relaxing to do that before bedtime….(coffee working too well)  woo hoo….we are at Costco so I shall return my peaches and then return to you!!!!

I have returned….I am FLYYYYYYING….I can not remember the last time I have had a whole cup of coffee….actually 2 large 1/2 caf 1/2 decaf cups full….I haven’t even had a whole diet coke in well over a year….water is all I drink 99.99% of the time….poor Chet thinks he is going to go get me a Tequila and it is only 12:20pm….and I had my first one of those at Jon and Erin’s in many, many, many years….it was really good….

We needed low-dose Asprin and couldn’t find anything but Bayer….not Costo's Kirkland brand, so we spent $12.79 on not even a year’s supply….we asked 2 different people at the pharmacy and they nicely told us there were no Kirkland ones to be found….not good enough for 'Nancy Grace', as Chet calls me, as I have to investigate everything….I asked at customer service and they ONLY had 778 packages of them to they got some nice young lady to help me and took me DIRECTLY to the Kirkland brand….$4.79 for a 2 year supply….c’mon husband….I can’t help my self….I only like getting ‘screwed’ with a smile….  :)…..it will help pay our RV bill this afternoon….she asked if there was anything else I needed after saying “that was really easy”….I said thank you, no….

What’s next besides my jaw ache….we called FMI to see if we had time to go look for glasses for me and we surely do' as the part that is broken is not the correct one, so they are trying to find it now….groan, groan, groan….it is a good thing we rescheduled in the first place so they would have the correct part.  It is not an easy job to close up our RV and move it so I am hoping against hope they can get the right part….

There was an article about a cup of coffee really helping before one exercises as it gets your matabolism moving….I am having a wild ride….I could drink cans of diet soda, in the past, and it didn’t affect me but give me a 1/2 cup of coffee and Chet says I am ‘dangerous’….

Fortunately for my darling husband, he just told me he forgot his hearing aids today…lol….

I have a funny story to share, one day, about my younger years….I have decided to start sharing some of the humor of Gaye in her 40’s….

….to be continued….

Have a blessed day!

Muze....An Update

27 June month 2014

I haven't been checking FB for several days due to being with the whole family; Chet, Brett, myself, Jonathan, Mitchell and his lady Siulan, Erin, the boys dad and wife Irene, and Lilli and Jack (there were 11 of us)....the joy of that and then having to watch over what has been going on with Brett has taken every ounce of my resources. 

Wednesday we were all, eating dinner and watching Brett who had been sinking more and more inside himself and becoming more paranoid and fearful....we took him home to bed and he didn't fall asleep for several hours.  There were still bouts of crying and bizarre dreams.... 

Yesterday, he was jumping if his phone got a notification and while showering down at the house he thought he was going to be sent off the property....he came back to the RV in a panic and I checked with his dad and Erin if anything had been said about custody or anyone not being allowed on the property to a resounding NO...I couldn't take anymore and left the doc a message that I needed to talk to him as I wanted my son back. 

I spoke with the family to get any feedback about Brett's behavior....we were all on the same page that it just wasn't right or okay....his step mom, Erin and Jon, his dad, Mitchell and Siulan, and of course us....we felt he had stopped talking very much and there was very little communication at all....Chet and I have felt, all along, his brain was being flooded with all sorts of thoughts and information that Brett was trying to process....I gathered all of the information I needed for when the doc did call....finally....Chet and I talked to him and he wanted us to knock his pills down to 2 a day starting last night and see if he does any better sooooooooooo here we go again!

Brett does seem happier and more talkative today and the old sparkle in his eye has somewhat returned.....he was able to verbalize he was very sad about leaving and hurting but also excited about going to Oregon when we left....he just said a few minutes ago, that his heart was hurting because he was sad....this is glacial for Brett....absolutely glacial....we hope he keeps perking up with less meds and that we don't have to put him back on the Tegretol as it seemed to be more sedating....it would also have been an almost 5 month experiment to no avail....keep your fingers crossed that this reduction will work...we will have his blood level checked on Wednesday.

I just wanted you to know what has been going on and that we are okay.... Chet is on FB several times a day so he keeps me up to date....my painting gives me solace and I try to do that as often as I can....also, I am knitting a blanket....I reiterate, I am sooooo happy to be back in the RV and so are the cats....

Big crash behind me as our 3 tiered rack from the computer desk, (or should I say desk full of crappola) just fell on to the floor and a few minutes later turned from its' side to upside down....we will be stopping soon at a really pretty spot by the ocean before our ascent and descent along the Smith River....the ride I always talk about in my muzes and posts....a most beautiful ride but one I can't look at in many places due to the steep terrain going straight down to the river....we want to get past it before dark....

We are now at the ocean and I have to help pick up a lot of stuff that is scattered on the floor....welllll I should say Chet did....heh heh

We miss you all and send gratitude for your concern, love and sweet thoughts....

Oh, if you could see the scenery with the Coastal redwood trees, the ferns and fauna and the river along this 2 lane road that you could almost reach your hand out and touch the sides....