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Gaye's MuzingsApril 2008 |
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April 30, 2008 EEEEEyowch it is May tomorrow and already on the way to my next birthday.
We had a lovely Anniversary. We spent the afternoon with WC & Leslie at the Oklahoma City Memorial Museum. It has been 13 years since the federal building was blown up. They put a beautiful reflection pool in where the street was in front of the building. There are 168 chairs arranged in order of the floors that the people died on; larger ones for the adults and small ones for the children. They light up at night and it is supposed to be very pretty. Each one is inscribed. We saw some or the remaining wall and some rubble. We were in the museum for 2 1/2 hours. It was fascinating but very hard to be there. It made me cry to see the pictures of the children. We have seen where JFK was killed and MLK and the museums and the Holocaust museum in DC For some reason this one was the hardest to get out of my psyche.
Afterwards we had a great dinner at P.F. Chang's and always try to find one when we are together with WC & Leslie as we love it there. Yesterday we did some shopping and I hit another windfall at the Dollar store's yarn section. Coincidently I ended up with the exact same amount of skeins here as I did in Oregon. Chet, with WC's help did some repairs on the coach.
We were going to leave today but decided to stay because we have fun with our friends and the wind has been blowing steadily from the south and it's not fun being broadsided driving this coach. Hopefully it will quiet down tomorrow. It's been beautiful here and we have had a nice relaxing time.
We want to get this posted so we can go to bed.
'nighty night.......
April 28, 2008 Happy Anniversary to US!!! Seven years today!!
April 27, 2008 I know the date because our 7th anniversary is tomorrow. We just bought ourselves a lovely present about an hour ago but won't be able to get it until N. Carolina!!!!!!!! I will share about it as I write.
We just went through Clinton, Oklahoma and earlier we went through Bushland, Texas. I am sure it was named loooooooong before our illustrious President.
We took off about 6 a.m. yesterday from our spot in Arizona and after 16 hours we arrived at a rest area just a little way into Texas. It was very windy and driving was not easy and it isn't much better today. I drove the day before yesterday for 37 miles from 1 rest stop to another. I swear I get sleepy within 3 minutes after I get behind the wheel. I guess it is my extreme reaction to so not wanting to drive. Yesterday I drove 48 miles between 40 to 55 m.p.h. It was blowing and there were hills neither of which I enjoyed. It was a good thing I stopped when I did as we immediately hit construction and 1 lane of traffic. I probably would have been going about 25 m.p.h. through it and would have had a few miles of trucks behind me. We wanted to make it to Texas so Chet took over and the wind worsened. Our slide topper, which we have replaced once due to billowing out and tearing from wind, was billowing and we had to drive slooooowly with the flashers on. Well, you probably know what's next. It kept billowing and there was no place to stop so we limped to the rest stop. The motorhome was rocking in the wind. We arrived at exactly the right time as a truck was leaving and we got the only spot left!!!! We didn't put up the dish due to the wind so got no emails or tv. I read my Janet Evanovich book about Stephanie Plum the bounty hunter. I guess I like them as they are not only mind candy but I relate to the character in too many ways!!!! She seems to keep getting herself in a lot of silly trouble. I finally willed myself to sleep as we lost 2 hours yesterday and it was only 8:30 p.m. body time when I went to bed. I also took many naps yesterday as I wasn't feeling so great.
On to our anniversary present. We will be buying another new slide topper for the big slide and hopefully will be able to arrange to have it installed in NC I guess not hopefully but definitely. What a *&^%#$^^*()_(*&^%%%^&&((()))*&%###@!! drag.
It is sunny and cool today and nice, not so hazy as it was yesterday. We are trying to make arrangements to get our water reconnected before we get to T'gate and a satellite dish as the cable doesn't have HD. Oh, I am looking forward to setting up house. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I want to stop traveling, it's just having a place to nest is very exciting to me and nest I will....
We are getting into Oklahoma City and will be with WC and Leslie for 3 days. We do so look forward to that.....
Have a great day!
April 24, 2008 I can't believe it!!!!!!!!!!!! We are on our way east and then north to Newfoundland. We will try and see our dear friends WC and Leslie as we go through Oklahoma and then to my brother's in N. Carolina. T'gate is screaming in our ears and our hearts but we will get there. We no sooner got out of the RV Park and headed over Malibu Canyon than did Twilly puke so we had to go into a turnout so I could do some repair work. He did this when we were on our way down from Eureka so we are wondering if he is going to form a "take off" pattern. That would be real sweet.
We are on the freeway going through LA so it is a lot better for me to be occupied than look as it really makes me nervous. People are extremely inconsiderate and have to get where they are going 10 minutes ago. We went to the doc yesterday for one last check for Chet's earache and my extreme exhaustion. She took an x-ray of my chest and it was clear....thank you!!! We loaded up on prescriptions for everything possible and then had lunch with Mitch. I had a pedicure which was wonderful and its going to have to last for a while...
It's always so hard to leave but I managed to do so this time with no tears, just an ache in my heart and gut. My gut has been off lately as has Chet's due to this crud we have had anyhow.
Brett will be arriving in Newfoundland 3 months from today. Carl and Jeff were looking for ticket prices and found some that were around $650.00 which is a little cheaper than Brett's was.
Our stay in LA extended to 2 weeks instead of one due to our being sick. I never got to go to see my sister as I didn't want to take the chance of giving her our crud. Cory, the lady who is her main caretaker said she doesn't remember when her boys come by within a few minutes after they have left. It's sad to watch after my mom.
We figured we would get started any how as the desert should dry us out! Uggh, I hate this part of the trip but Chet likes it after all of the years he spent in the Northwest. We will take I 10 to Lass Cruces, N.M. then north to Albuquerque to hit I 40 so we can miss having to go through the mountains in Arizona. Let's hope the hail and tornadoes have left Oklahoma and Texas by the time we get there. I 40 is a straight shot from LA to my brothers but too mountainy.
We are heading to Rancho Mirage S. of Palm Springs to get some food staples. Boy it is scary to watch the news....how much worse can it get as starvation grows. What have
we done to our planet!
It is a typical gray day as we travel through LA with haze on the mountains...at least it is not brown yet.
It is now 5:45 p.m. and we just left Costco at Rancho Mirage. We come here with love and hate. It is the only Costco anywhere in the country + Canada that I have ever found Jose's DECAF vanilla nut coffee so Chet and I have had this running discussion regarding the fact that I have to buy it by multiple cases. We have had a lot of fun looking at different Costco's and never finding it. I was ready to get my usual supply but he told me we have enough for a year in the bays below. He bought 2 regular colombian beans for himself as I needed to have another coffee maker; 1 for the Taj (motorhome) and one for the house. The hate is the casket display as you leave the store which is the only place we have seen that.... the elderly demographics I suppose....Palm Springs area.
They say people start to take on the others behaviors the longer they are together. Fortunately Chet has maintained very well as we certainly don't need more than 1 of me in this relationship. He actually has periods of time when his mind is relatively silent and he doesn't obsess about every little thing. He has been a great leveler for me and just lets me carry on to my hearts content and just smiles. Today I finally saw something different in his behavior....he loves the Pub Mix that they sell at Costco and sometimes we can't find it. I was looking forward to my soda but we had no cash with us. He had said he almost bought 4 Pub Mixes instead of 2 and I said to go back and get some but he said no. I'm beginning to think it is becoming his favorite word as I have us buried with things to go to T'gate with us. I couldn't even begin to guess how many skeins of yarn we have on board. It's EVERYWHERE. I'm getting off track which is so out of the norm...NOT. I was just waiting for my Costco soda and when we finished shopping we looked at each other and neither of us had any cash. He said I could go back through and get some more Pub Mix and get cash back. I, of course agreed, and went through the line and paid with my AMEX Costco card and was told I could only get cash back with my debit card. That is all well and good but Chet lost his wallet the other day and both of our debit cards were in it from 2 different banks along with what he thought was $90.00. We looked and looked, he went back to where we were shopping but their manager was gone so we were told to call the next day. I did my fair share of pouting, well maybe a bit more than fair, and we proceeded to cancel our debit cards. We were lucky as he usually has the AMEX card too as we use it for fuel so we can get the money back at the end of the year. We commiserated about all of the things he'd have to replace the next day. In the morning we called and found his wallet which they said was on the floor and when we got it back he saw he had $150.00 in it. He gave the girl some money which she was quite surprised by and we went happily on our way with $60.00 more than we thought. Unfortunately we will have to get our new debit cards sent to us; his from Portland and mine from LALA Land. Hopefully they will get to my brother's before we leave there.
I'm still off track as I got to tease Chet about hoarding Pub Mix even though it isn't nearly the amount of coffee I have and we won't even talk about the Body Butter I have been collecting from there. All in good fun
Hello, cousin Bob in New York. If you're still reading the muzes I thought I'd say hi.
It's beautiful out right now as we are pushing east.......
I'm baaaack....we are heading up the pass towards our 1st gas stop just over the Ariz. border. It is a looooooong 2 lane road that goes on forever. There was a nasty accident on the other side heading west....a big rig looked to be loaded with some kind of concrete squares. It was in the wrong direction in the center median and we can't figure out how it got where it was. We passed miles, miles and miles of trucks with some cars backed up at a dead stop. There was no way to divert anyone as we are in the desert and in the middle of nowhere. They must've been there for a looooong time and of course we never thought to turn on the CB until after we passed it all. May we not see anymore of those on our trip!
April 17, 2008 It comes and goes, comes and goes like wildfire. Life! If only to put it on pause at times but that is what memories are for I guess. My BIG birthday was a bit convoluted this year as we couldn't be in more than one place at a time and were supposed to be on our way to NL as I write. Instead I am in the motorhome and my hubby is in bed with a headache and an upset stomach. It has been a very difficult last month or more with the packing and then repacking and inventory of all we were sending to T'gate, to my toe dislocation, to catching the flu which included viral conjunctivitis, feeling horrible and now Chet not feeling well. It must have been an imposed slow down.
Jon, Erin, and Jack and Lilli put on the sweetest party for me with piles of balloons they blew up to all sorts of party things from a princess crown and plates to lots of necklaces, pictures made for me by the children, to a lovely dinner and some new fuzzy Uggs of which it is impossible to have too many pairs. My son, Jon, gave me a very special jacket which touched my heart as he will always be the jokester. It is so nice to see my daughter, Erin and Lilli Mae following in Grandma's footsteps. I could never have enough shoes and have always had to have ones that I liked in every color. Capezios and Papagallos, Doc Martens, Danskos, Teva sandals to my beloved Uggs. I'm afraid Erin has gotten me in that department with her flower embroidered ones. I asked that it just be us and Brett at the party and that was very special as it made it totally undistracted. Even as we ate Lilli was in her art closet making me another picture. The kids were sooooooo cute as Jack had set up a table in the living room down to tablecloth, place mats, a vase of roses, a candle, and some cups of juice. I am so sorry we didn't get a photo of that scene as it will burn in my mind for as long as my memory serves me. How innocently beautiful it all was. My heart is already aching for them.
Yesterday I was finally able to get together with Mitchell and Andrea who took us to an incredible dinner at Cynthia's in West Hollywood and it was as if they had reserved the whole place just for us. I will let that be my fantasy. The food was amazing and we couldn't figure out which flavor to leave in out mouths last; macaroni and cheese, corn fritters which were corn patties with two types of sauces, corn chowder, ahi tuna, crab cakes, scalloped potatoes you could die for, rib eye steak, rack of lamb with amazing risotto and I had my favorite, a garlic laden caesar salad with anchovies. It was so cute that Mitch told us it was the best restaurant he eats at and to order whatever we wanted as he proceeded to order spicy fried chicken with mashed potatoes and string beans and around the table it went. When it got to me everyone said we had enough food for an army and I didn't get to order. I said, "hey, whose party is this" and we all got a good giggle and I got to order my meal. We asked the waitress if she would sing Happy Birthday at the end and she said okay if all would join in. The first customers besides us walked in just as we finished as we got there at 5:00 when they opened and W. Hollywierd is a later dining crowd.
From there we went to The Grove which always reminds me of walking through a fairyland with their fountain that dances to music and the train trolley that rides from one end to the other. This was my first venture out besides to the trip to the doctor the day before since being here. My energy level was about a 47% but we managed to get to Nordstrom's, the Mac Store and all of this was after my real surprise trip to the American Girl doll store. I am about 5 years old when I get in there and my eyes open wide like a kid in a doll store. I have a collection of 6 of the period dolls with most of their accoutrements. Mitch and Chet behaved very well as we went from doll to doll section and I got to pick out what I wanted as I had gift certificates from Chet and Brett held tightly in my hand. I got the table, chairs, cushions, party favors and cupcakes, table cloth and an adorable glass serving set, 4 dogs and a few new outfits for the dolls. Understand, I don't play dolls, it is all displayed in one way or another and now a I have a huge house that I can spread it all out. I have a bed from one of the dolls that I used to keep in front of the fireplace at my home and the cats used to sleep in it and always managed to get their heads on the pillow. We do have pictures of Spotty bulging over the sides.
As the motorhome fills!!!!! It sounds like a soap opera. Just think, I can empty it and refill it when we go back next year!!!!
Andrea is leaving for Germany tonight to see her dad, who is in the hospital with a pulmonary embolism. He got up yesterday to go to the bathroom much against doctors orders and fell and ended up in intensive care for a while. Please send prayers.
We are supposed to see Brett today but will have to see how much energy we have to expend. It really took it out of me yesterday but I wouldn't have traded it for the world...... P.S. Carl & Jeff, when you come to LA the next time, be sure sure to have dinner at Cynthia's in West Hollywierd. Food was exquisit and my side of fresh garlic reminded me of our last dinner together.
April 14, 2008 I don't where my muze will go today. First, I wish Andrea's dad the best and any good thoughts, prayers or light would be appreciated. He had a pulmonary embolism and they did some tests today. She is flying to Germany to see him Thursday night. We are going to try and get together Wednesday late afternoon for my birthday.
I feel a tiny bit better today but for some reason my left eyeball is stinging and is all red. Tomorrow is my doctor day. It has been years since I have been this sick. I rode with Chet to his dentist appointment just to get outside for a while.
Brett is recovering from a baaaaad hit of food poisoning Saturday night. He was a sick man as we were on speakerphone at 2:30 a.m. keeping him company. We have been having very hot weather and of course Brett's air conditioning broke. He was hot and miserable but slept most of the day. I wish I was bouncing back as fast as he is.
Have a happy and healthy day!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 12, 2008 What a way to spend a birthday yesterday!!!
I felt like I had been hit by a truck the day before; chest hurting, throat, head filled and an all around malaise. Yesterday we got our wish to stay home in Malibu and we cleaned up some in here and I defrosted the freezer. I played Literati, knitted, read all of my favorite garbage magazines and had a laid back time. We actually stayed home in the most expensive parking lot we stay in but where else is there that is only 17 miles from Mitchell's and 25 minutes from Brett. How sad that I have to get sick before I can stay home!!!!! Also, walking isn't all that easy in my walking shoe.
Mitch brought me a sugar-free cake that Andrea made with candles and all. The person that polices the front entrance asked Mitchell all of the questions they need to ask and he answered as he has spent a lot of time here himself. Something didn't set right and he wasn't allowed in....I had to get my shoe on and hobble down to the front and express how I felt about my son coming here with my b-cake, having to walk out front to see him and sit outside to visit. It did not do any good for my malaise. That truck came back and ran over me again and my feeling so much better yesterday certainly backslid.
We'll probably be banned from the "BU" in the future. It was not nice.
Chet and I went to buy some milk and we came back and lit my candles, sang Happy Birthday to me and had cake. That was so sweet that Andrea did that.
Today the kids want to take me to the Grove where American Girl is. Damn, I don't know if I can do it-particularly since it is going to be near 90 degrees out. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day and I will feel better.
Chet is very happy right now with his computer and kick boxing on the tv. I've already cried watching the end of "The Wedding Singer" and the original Tarzan which was quite humorous.
Chet is putting on the video of "Andrea Bocelli, Live in Tuscany". That will be a treat to watch I'm sure.
Enjoy your days to the fullest..... April 11th Happy Birthday Gaye!!!
April 10, 2008 I can remember the date today because tomorrow is my birthday. They come so rapidly now; not at all like when I was a child and wished and wished for the next one to come.
We are in Los Angeles now which doesn't mean much when we look at the GPS and see how many miles are still ahead of us. It's 3:55 p.m. and we are trying a different route so as to try and miss the traffic on the 405 and 101 freeways. We will see....
I sit and knit while listening to the discs of the book "John Adams". As usual my mind starts wandering and I won't know a word that has been said. I am lost in Twillingate and the thought of what it will be like to be in our home. I vacillate between feeling like a pioneer to wondering what have I done. When we purchased the property I had visions of Jack and Lilli Mae and Jon and Erin wandering the property and going across the street to the "tide puddles" as Jack would call them, turning in circles with their fingertips trailing through the water while playing in the little lake by the hospital, picking blueberries and their buckets overflowing. Perhaps I am really seeing my little girl self doing such with my husband watching with the adoring smile that he so often watches me with. I am the girl with the home by the water; returning to the Atlantic that I played in for so many years and have always longed to return to. I don't see myself in the water in T'gate like in Miami but I can spend so many hours just watching as I have dreamt about since my childhood
It has become very clear to me that I will be that little girl as Jon has started to build a little piece of Heaven in Eureka and if you could see it you would understand why no one would want to leave the compound to do anything at all. With at least a 160 degree view of the ocean; the Pacific, as that is where he spent his years as a child and adult swimming and playing in the water much like I did in Miami. The difference being that I was bathed in warm ocean currents and when I went under the water and opened my eyes and turned in circles I could see until the clarity faded into blue-green.
When they build their home, barn, pool and fill the property with horses, goats, dogs, cats, and whatever else they choose there will be no reason to leave except to go down to Sole St. property to sit in the yard while they get ready to untie the boat from the dock to go fishing or just to putter around Humbolt Bay.
My eyes will get to see all of that and the unbelievable raw beauty of Newfoundland. I feel like the luckiest little girl in the world.
My family is doing what they want to do and I am able to share half of each year with Chet in paradise and then venture back to "the Lilli J Ranch".
Brett's world is a good place for him and he has the luxury of not being as cluttered in his mind as the rest of us. That doesn't mean he doesn't think about it all but he lives in his existence and I do believe he is happy.
Mitchell is working towards his plan of freedom but I do try to remind him that he has to grasp it while the grasping is feasible.
We are in Malibu now and will be in our camp spot in 5 minutes.............
April 9, 2008 Happy Birthday Bernie, Happy Birthday to you!!!!!!!!!!
We are on our way from Jon and Erin's house and as Chet backed down the driveway he filled the generator exhaust pipe with mud and dented a bay door on the side of the motorhome that had the only straight ones left. I think Jon is bound and determined to get them all before we get to stay on the nice flat property at the Lilli J Ranch. We had a very sweet time there and realize no matter how many days we spend or prolong the visit that we will have to leave anyhow.
No tears when Brett went home on Monday but I think I knew we would be in LA in a few days anyhow. I made it away from Jon and Erin with no tears too. I don't know why that was but the best I can come up with is that I see how very exciting their life is and am so happy for them. His tractor will be there any day and the barn will be arriving soon. He has planted 1800 saplings and trees already. The house plans are beautiful and we told them we will be there for all of our time in the states and all we have to do is drive to the other side or the property and dry-camp every few weeks and it will seem like we went away! Actually he just bought a lot on some canals in the bay and maybe we could go there!!!!! He will have a cow when he reads this but he can just put the cow in the pasture.
We had a great early birthday hampered only by my need to be a princess. It has amazed me how much it knocked me down physically and emotionally. It is time for some Advil as my toes are aching a little. Made it without pain meds once again as there is some kind of disconnect when it comes to the pain sensation. I didn't even have the heart to text Carl and pester him while out on property tour Tuesday or play much Literati. Chet has been sleeping on the couch with me....we're not too close or anything like that but that's what we do.
I went to the surgeon and he and his nurse seem to be the only ones that were interested in the pictures of my toe except my friend Caroline. Chet has to send it to her. The doc put a piece of gauze on it and sent me packing with a walking shoe and a script for more Keflex. I kept saying to Chet that I had thought I had cut my toe off and it finally hit me today that his telling me I did was true. The only thing that held was the top skin of my toe. That really grossed me out. I have only bumped it twice, the kids Mastiff walked on it once and Chet stepped on my other foot so far today. Hmmmmm I feel a little vulnerable.
We are headed south of Frisco today to spend the night and will arrive in Malibu tomorrow. We still have a ton to clean up, papers to sort and need to find a place for all of the stuff I keep buying!!!!
Enough for now as I need to work on my blanket as it covers my legs while I knit and I'm cold,,,,,
April 5, 2008 Does every princess have a few falls from grace from time to time? I guess this one had one last night or more to the point, early this morning!! To understand what this is about you have to be following my muzes. It was after 2:00 a.m.and I had been playing Literati. I went to go to bed and climbed up the little 2-step ladder to get in. I was fussing with the blanket when the ladder tipped and down I slid. Oh the visions in my head as I started yelling the all too familiar cry "Cheeeeeeeeeet". I couldn't catch my breath as I knew I had done some damage and was in a bit of shock. He sat up to see what happened and with that the blanket went over my face and so did his body. I really needed my air so I finally got the fact that he was on my face, out of my mouth and into his ears. He was so tired after the drive to Jon and Erin's and wanted so much to sleep. It took a few moments for him to get to where he could help me as we do live in tight quarters. I couldn't look, as I thought I had cut my toe off, as I felt the slice and the front of my shin going down the stool. I landed over on my previously broken ankle and leg and thank goodness they were already plated and well screwed together. I may have been in a real pickle. I had an open dislocation of my 2nd toe and I will spare you the details even tho we have photos on Chet's new phone. Chet called Jon and he came down to where we park on out pad he put in for us. He had me put my arms around his neck and he carried me on his back down the stairs and to his truck where he got on his hands and knees and had me use his back for a way to get up into the truck. We had to stop once on the way to the truck for me to catch my breath as those wonderful breasts were once again impeding my ability to breathe. The long and the short of it is that I have an open dislocation. The skin was torn to the joint in my toe and they cleaned it and stitched it. The doc was kind enough to numb my toe as soon as he saw it. The x-ray tech said she had never seen one quite like mine and had to be very creative to take the pictures. They almost kept me in the hospital as they are extremely worried that the joint is exposed and don't want staph to get into it. I am on a mega dose of antibiotics and am only allowed to move around to go to the bathroom, etc. At least the quarters are small enough here. I go to the surgeon on Tuesday to see what is next. Chet has to change ny bandage once a day til then. I got some crutches to help me move around. This really sucks as I was here for an early birthday and some good old grandma time. Jack and Lilli Mae came to see me and he brought me a rose and a heart rock he found on the way down here from the house. That started the eye-leaking and it has been going on all morning. I called Carl for some sympathy and he said we had left a bag of laundered leggings etc. there so he will have to mail them to Mitchell's house. My early birthday celebration is on hold until tomorrow. I can't tell you how it felt to be taken care of by my son last night and for him to carry me to the truck. I guess I am going to have to rethink my princess bed idea a bit. It wasn't like the story at all. Jack and Lilli Mae are precious. Jon and Erin went to a party last evening and we got to babysit. I thought Carl, I really miss you!! May my house on Alberta sell!!!! Please, all, send good thoughts. Lorin and Irene we wish you all of the best with your upcoming marriage. Later, friends and loved ones..............
April 4, 2008 Two days ago the dryer stopped drying and Chet had to take it to be repaired and the place turned out to be less than 5 minutes from the storage units. It was very convenient. He had gotten up early Wednesday morning to be at the Jeep agency to have our new rear brakes checked as we had been smelling burning rubber. I needed the car to take Brett to meet his case worker and boss from when he lived in Portland. Dan was an angel that fell from the sky right into our laps and I will never be able to thank him enough for what he did for Brett while he was here. Chet found out that one of the calipers broke and it was smoking so badly when we got to the restaurant where we were meeting our friends, Anthony and Katie, that someone came outside to see if we were okay. Anthony followed us home after dinner to make sure we got there in one piece. We slept in front of Carl and Jeff's Wednesday night so Chet could take the motorhome in to
March 30, 2008 I always loved the story of "The Princess and the Pea". How I related to it and have spent my life remembering the feeling of fantasizing about being a princess. Not at all one of the monarchy, but a little girl princess. I have my princess wand in the motorhome as I type. Last night I finally reached the ultimate that I could reach in a motorhome. Besides the fact that I found a down pillow that was approximately $200.00 and got it for $68.00 some time ago and having a lot of funny conversations between us about my special princess pillow; each time the price going from $1,000.00 one time to $100.00 another. Half of the time I have trouble figuring out which pillow it is. I guess I will have to find a pillowcase that says "Princess" on it.
We have been buying beds for the house in T'gate (remember that is short for Twillingate) as I want new ones and we were looking for one of the Nova Foam mattresses for the motorhome but of course they were out at the Costco I was at and they told me they weren't going to be reordered at this time. Weeeeeeeelll, yesterday I just happened to find ONE queen mattress at the Costco we went to near the storage units to return some lights that I bought. First, it was snowing and hailing like crazy....yes piling up on windshields and people were scurrying around the parking lot like ants that have had their anthill stomped on. Now how would I know about that??!! We had worked all day freezing our what' sits off and were exhausted, the car was filled to the brim with trash i.e... cardboard tape, packing materials, etc. I had sent Chet to the food court to sit because he was at the end of his string and I, being the consummate shopper, had to do my walk through. There it was, our bed and the only one! I had to have it and the food we needed, 3 mattress pads, a set of sheets, and a book. I get checked out and my husband found me as we went outside to more hail and lots of rain. We couldn't put the box on top of the car as we were drowning and freezing so I put all of the trash in a shopping cart. I didn't like it but what choice did I have; the princess and her bed! We got home to the motorhome and had to figure out how to get the box inside before it got too wet and started to expand. We pulled and pushed until it got in the door and Chet was out of the rain. Then we had to roll it up and over the passenger chair. We did that and I made dinner but I was so nauseous I couldn't eat so I played Literati. This is where the ultimate princess part comes in!!! We had to put the mattress on top of our other one and I assured Chet it would only be that way until we got to T'gate. Let's see...March 29, 30, 31, April, and into a part of May. We could do it even though it hangs over the end of the first mattress about 6 or 8 inches as that one fits under the window area. The instructions said it would take 24 to 48 hours to puff up completely. There was a hump in the middle but oh well. Getting into my VERY high bed last night was quite a production as I have to step on a stool to get in normally. It was very difficult to roll over or move and it felt like our heads were lower than our feet even though I had 3 pillows under my head with the "special" princess pillow on top. You can't get up on your elbow to turn or move as you sink right in. I don't know how I finally fell asleep as I felt like my breasts were under my chin choking me!!!
I did survive as I am typing right now. I only scraped one knee trying to get up in the middle of the night and Chet so graciously let me in on his side as there is a step up due to the engine being there. I crawled across the bed and not only got twisted in my t-shirt I had a bar of soap under me instead of the "pea". Remember I have told you we sleep with bars of Ivory soap for foot and leg cramps and Chet's restless leg syndrome. Getting out of bed was easier this morning. It must have puffed up in the night. I talked to Carl and asked him if they had difficulty when they got their Tempurpedic. He said there is definitely a learning curve which they thought would take forever. That made me feel ever so much better as I couldn't imagine trying to take it out and returning it. It will be fine when we get the other mattress out at T'gate. I wonder what the border agents will think if they come in. I guess I will have to tell them that I have never really grown up!
This evening when we finished at the units we had to go to Costco so I could apologize for what I had done. I spoke to a lovely young man that had "bakery" on his name tag. He assured me he was a manager and had his old tag on due to the weather. He said it had been taken care of and that he appreciated my coming in. We agreed that I wouldn't do it again.................................................at that store <)8-( (;-)
All is well in my world at this exact moment!
March 28, 2008 Hello and a good Friday to you!!!!!! We just got up, 10:50, and are moving around to get breakfast and get out of here to get our window shades for the house from Lowes, tires for the Jeep, get packing materials from the storage unit, and hopefully end up at Carl and Jeff's house to start packing the things that have been living at his house for several years. I sold them all of my Calphalon pots, pans, roasting pan, teakettle, etc., last year. This year I am getting them back...yipppppppieeeeeee. It's not that I used them all that much bout they sure looked good hanging from my pot rack! We dickered over the price and they threw them in when they purchase of my beautiful hutch that isn't going to move to T'gae with us. We got a card from our neighbors in NL and that's how Marilyn spelled Twillingate which is so much easier than typing the whole word! Your special info for the day.....
We were supposed to work at the storage unit today with Danny but it was snowing, yes, snowing.
We stayed up very late last night as we got our new phones from Verizon. They're so neat but as usual the learning curve is very high for me! Chet is still getting them set up. Samsung I760's are what we got. Chris, who waited on us and may I say with a LOT of attitude, wanted to know why I wanted that phone if I wasn't going to use the internet capabilities. I couldn't figure out why he had such an attitude problem as he looked "down" at us and almost fired back with a "none of your f...... business" but had just come from acupuncture and still floating from a post acupuncture high. He curtly told us something different from what I was told by Verizon a few hours earlier. I try to document all that goes on with them as the stories NEVER gel. I called them back and said that just once I would like them to do what they say they would do. Chris was rather snippy and after he talked to the lady I was talking to he snippily thought we were going to have to do what he said to get the 2 phones for the same price. Ordering them online was not an option for me as that is not what I was told sooooooooooo after a $50.00 credit on our account we left the store with our phones. You all know what I am talking about, especially those who crossed into Canada and were told there was no more North American plan and it would be 69 cents a minute to call the states. That whole story was addressed in a muze, I think, at an earlier time. That only took almost two hours. What an experience the cell phone companies are. Verizon just happens to have the greatest coverage and we need that for traveling. It was amazing how Chris's attitude took a 180 when the manager appeared and walked through a wall of tension. His behavior was not acceptable and the manager and I had a lovely talk after the transaction. Enough.
I'd better get started as I have a wonderful husband who makes me breakfast in the mornings. In 5 minutes it will be lunchtime......................
March 25, 2008 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEET HUSBAND. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!! MY LOVE. We are in the middle of relabeling the boxes and actually it isn't so bad. We have done a much better job of stacking boxes and tubs and ended up with more space. We finished the first unit and worked on 2 and 3 today but still have 2 good days of work in front of us. I am sorting treasures to go to Jon and Erin's and am able to let go as lot of them will grace the walls of their barn and I will get to visit them!!!!!!
We took Brett to get some shoes and then to our acupuncture. I will miss Laura so much when we leave.
My brother is doing fantastically and went out for a ride yesterday. This afternoon my nephew called and I really didn't want to call him back for fear of what I was going to hear. My sister had a breast removed several years ago and in the last 2 years she had something removed from her chin which they never figured out. Peter told me she has cancer on her chin and some nodes in her neck. Bless bless heart, she said she wasn't ready to die and wanted to do whatever she could. It is amazing all of the things she has had to deal with. She will be having her whole body scanned to see if it is anywhere else. At least she is in great hands at the City of Hope. Her family has been closely affiliated and have helped there as the Fox/Flyer family too. Oh my, it's been a hard few weeks. My hair falling out is okay compared to what my brother and sister have been going through.
We had a lot of work done on the Jeep yesterday, none if it being the front end that the Goodyear tire place insisted was bad and had to be replaced. We still managed to drop almost $1,000 and have to have the tires replaced on Friday. We will also be ready for an upgrade at Verizon on Friday so off to find ourselves some new Samsungs!!!!
Enjoy and cherish each and every day................................
March 20, 2008 And a happy and remarkable day it is!! Happy that Brett is here with us.....remarkable that my brother had his bypass surgery on Monday and is home already. Oh, I can't find the words to express my relief and gratitude!!!!!
Tomorrow the slide motor is going to be replaced in the motorhome and Monday the Jeep is going in to be checked. Saturday we start the unreal task of opening and labeling all the boxes we have to send to Newfoundland..
Ugggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...................
March 19, 2008 It is time for the daily newz!!!! My brother is going home on Saturday he thinks. He feel very well and walked the hall today. I just keep saying thank you. He is alive and well.
We have been working so hard and it seems to rain on the days that we do our hardest work. Being outside at the storage units has been brutal and we thought we were starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Chet finally got a real person on the phone at Canadian customs today and we have to open all of the boxes and tubs and label the contents. It feels like some kind of torture but we have to do it. There are only about 150 boxes and about 90 plastic tubs. Think of us 8-(.
Brett will be here tomorrow at 10:45 and as usual I cannot wait to see him. We have to stay one extra week we think to finish. Just keep walking through it.
Everything else is fine except we went to get tires today and there is something wrong with the Jeep's front end and have to get that repaired first. Does it ever stop?
Have a fine day. I did!
March 17, 2008 Waiting is such a difficult thing. I realize that the time is right here and now but not being able to talk to my brother and tell him I am with him and love him as he is still on the operating table. I want them to get his heart all fixed and for him to live. I want the phone to ring with good news from Lynne. I want to be able to talk to my sister and have her remember the sentence we just finished. Her Alz...is progressing so rapidly that it hurts me to talk to her. My mom was very different.
We just came back to the motorhome...the phone just rang and my brother is fine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The doctor didn't even have to use the heart lung machine as he was doing so well and should be able to take the breathing tube out in about 2 hours. Thank you, thank you, thank you! THANK YOU! We didn't get to talk too much as when Lynne heard my voice crack she lost it too and had to hang up. Relief is so fine and the tears feel so good. I'm sure we have all shed them in our lifetime more than once. I was saying I had forgotten my American Express card and had a return to do, so we had to came back to find it.
I need to digest right now and let my tears of happiness fall.
Have a Happy St. Patrick's day and drink a green beer for me (8-)!!!!!!!
March 16, 2008 Hello my family, friends and those of you who read this whom I don't know. It has been difficult to write as we have been so busy trying to get ready to go.
Today we took the day off from moving and kicked back a bit. Tomorrow we have to get back on the moving train. It has been raining since we started the heavy moving. Before that it had been so beautiful. Rain is expected to continue for many days to come.
I am living in abject fear of the telephone calls from the moving companies with their estimates. I had better be next to a chair or a wall!!!!! Oh my, there is so much and this is my third downsize. A lot of goodies are going to Jon & Erin's for the barn they will be building. I will still get to visit it (8-).
We will be changing our trip plans a bit and heading to N. Carolina to see my brother before going to NL. His surgery is tomorrow morning so hold him tightly for me and his family.
We took our kitties to the vet for their yearly visit and got a good health report. We have a lot of medicine for the two old men in case of problems.
We are trying to find tires for the Jeep right now as they have done us well and are tireD.
You all have a great day....Randy, Tracey and Cal, thank you for your help, it is so appreciated.
March 10, 2008 We waken each day with plans of what we are going to do. The reality of it is that the power greater than myself whom I choose to call God may have different plans.
I received a phone call from my big brother, Craig, and we had the sweetest talk about what we both were doing, what a beautiful day it was in Wingate, N. Carolina; cold and clear, about the horses that are at my niece's farm, the pigs, chickens and all of the eggs Kimberly had collected. He couldn't ride his horse as it needs a pedicure and a new shoe. I know how that is as I love my pedicures and oh how I love my shoes!!
Chet and I went to the big tent sale at my favorite plumbing store and the bomb hit when I answered my phone. It was my sister-in-law and she told me Craig just had a heart attack as he was digging a small ditch at the farm. He evidently drove himself to the hospital and was airlifted to the big one in Charlotte. I spent the rest of my day curled up in my bed as it felt like the safest place to be. They did a cath today and his 2 year old stent failed so he has opted for surgery and I just found out it will be done next Monday so we need all of your prayers whatever the may be. Lynne just called a few sentences ago and let me talk to Craig. She couldn't have given me a bigger gift.
I signed papers for the two houses I sold today and had a nice visit with Carl my friend and broker. We were going to go to dinner later but we all were just a little too exhausted. He is a dear friend and was playing with my knitting the other night at his house and said when he was a little boy he always wanted a tail. Well, that's all I needed to hear and made him a long tail that Chet will post soon. He has been wearing it as a scarf. I wrote a note to him that every little boy's dreams should come true. It was great fun watching him as he opened the package. These are the things that make my life fun!
Well, on with my day which will probably include a trip to Home Depot.......may your day be blessed as was mine when I heard my brothers voice.
March 7, 2008 Where is the time going?????? I watch it fly by my eyes...whoooosh!
We are packing boxes and trying to get information about shipping and duties. I was playing a great game of Literati and winning then bango the connection to the internet failed. How unusual, it is raining in Oregon. Grrrrrrrrr I will have to see how many points I lost.
I just want you to know that nothing special is happening and I won't forget you!
Please don't give up on me......
March 4, 2008 See how very interesting my life has been????!! We have been gathering things together from several houses and moving them to the storage place. We have to buy tires for the Jeep and possibly the beast! Ouch. I applied for a new passport, started boxing some dishes, made an appointment for the cats to go for their shots next week, bought some shoes, vitamins, we've been to acupuncture, the post office, tomorrow I get to go for a pedicure,mmmmmm good, made reservations for brett to come up here next week, made reservations for him to go to NL in July for 55 days, (which is still not enough for me!), are waiting for a new slide motor and on and on! I just want to let you know I am still functioning. We have had dinner with Carl and Jeff and had a great time and I get to buy back my Caphalon pots and pans that they bought last year at our most unsuccessful garage sale in 108 degree weather. It will cost about a dollar a pound to ship our things to NL so that is how I am figuring out how badly I want some things. Jon is taking a lot of my "treasures" for his ranch. My last set of leaded glass windows that I made will grace his home. I will have to take my Dynasty range with me tho. Oh, and of course my family of mannequins!!!!!! I can't figure out how to work spell check as Chet had to disable my mouse pad on my computer because I was getting into too much trouble. Will keep you up on all of the pertinent information. Have a sweet day!
February 25, 2008 I don't really want to write tonight but Brett has been hounding me now that he has finally caught on to the muzes! Hi Brett...hi Carl, Leslie, and all of you who follow us. Hello Jon.
We arrived in our park at 5:30 p.m. and all Chet has done is hook up the electricity as I still have to go through my placement anxiety and see what else is available. That doesn't mean we will move it just means I have to have all of the answers first.
It was a beautiful drive into Portland proper. It always gives me a thrill near the river. It is so pretty. There has been a ton of building going on and the whole waterfront coming into town has changed dramatically. We got a bite to eat and were astounded at the amount of traffic that was NOT the freeway. I wonder if it is the gas prices. We'll see if it stays the same as it is usually pretty backed up to get to the island where we stay. It's right off Interstate 5 at the Columbia River.
Tomorrow the fun begins as we have to shift into work mode and start the packing process for NL. Oh my, it is reality. Wowzers!!!!
We walked by one of the two houses I just sold and drove by the one that is left for this year. I was a bit anxious about how I would feel and all I could do is ball up my fists and say YEAH. It felt sooooo freeing. May the right person walk into #3 very soon and buy it....yes!
Well my friends and darling family I will say bye for now and play some Literati early as going to bed at 3 or 4 in the morning as I have done for the past 3 nights just doesn't cut it.....
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