Off Again

[PatrioticStabilist]

Hubbies frequent flier miles are backing up on him and going to expire if I don't use them.  Have to stay home for awhile to save some money!!

I'm thinking in January of going to the Florida keys for a few days.  I don't want to drive down there so would be a good way to go, or maybe December if I can swing it.  Then he said he is accumulating on his current flights and I think he has 180000 on Air France.  I'm going to see if that will fly us to Tahiti in the spring.  Man, life is rough, when we are up against deadlines like these.  

Next September is a trip to Yellowstone, I'm looking forward to that.

I'm not sure he has seen them, but he said some coworkers have seen whales near the shore of the house they live in.  He has seen dolphins and he said the fish feed in that bay like crazy.  To bad the new pier and refinery will take a toll, you know it will, but those folks need progress.

I need to post some pictures of these little "motorhomes" he saw near the beach in Angola, I was surprised to see them.  They are on my home computer.

[PatrioticStabilist]

Well, today thought we were going to miss seeing Silver Springs.  My tailbone hurt so bad Sue Anne suggested I rent a motorized wheelchair so I did.  I found myself explaining to people why I was using it.  I actually felt self conscious because I look healthy and yet was in it.  How odd that effected me this way.  But still it let her enjoy the place and me able to get around, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to walk it.

I have a sleeping pillow that has a cirlce in it for your head so I used it to sit on and also took pills so driving wasn't bad. I hope this doesn't take a long time to heal.

[workingtorv]

I'm sorry to hear that you had a fall, you may want to have it looked at because you have a good drive to get back home and I would hate to see you do further damage to it.

Good luck and have a safe journey home.

[PatrioticStabilist]

We are near Mobile, Alabama tonight, I'm not making good progress.

The wind was whipping every which way today and crosswinds are still not wonderful, just better.  I would be trucking along at 65 to 70 then wham, so back down to 60.  But my tailbone is hurting bad enough I had to stop often, I'm going to the doc when I get home.  As slow as I'm going and as much as I'm stopping I'm not getting along so well.  I saw lots of big diesel pushers heading east, but not many out there small like mine is.  I would stay someplace for a couple of days as I think tomorrow is supposed to be worse, if it is I will pull in and stay till the next day, but I want to get to a doc on Monday so want to get in.  Hubby said its only a 12 hour drive from Pensacola to home, not for me right now!!  I looked at weatherbug and the wind would blow from the south, then north, then west, I guess its from the hurricane and the cold front coming in. They are saying 35 here tonight, but its 52 now so kind of doubt it.  I believe we were in the 40's last night but we were toasty.  The furnace didn't use that much propane and Sue Anne was snuggled in.  She doesn't like an electric blanket, so Blackie and I had one. Black loves that thing.  I think we all got up and used the bathroom at the same time, then all plunked back in our beds, even the cat.  She is doing well.  Now she goes behind the couch when traveling and when I stop here she comes.  Today we were at a rest stop and she is out rolling in some sun shining in and then went to sleep for a bit.  She will be traveling with us from now on.

[PatrioticStabilist]

 I am getting Sue Anne to like Willie's Place, we even play it at night a lot of times when we are on our computers.  Really good music for sure. 

Here I am with an injured "tail feather" and Sue Anne with an injured "wing".  I'm having to help her wash her hair, she is having a time.  She is learning to eat left handed!

I told my husband the only good thing is my backside is well padded enough it probably protected me!

Tonight we had a salad, then I fixed spaghetti and garlic, herb, and mushroom sauce, pretty good.  I'm thinking of baking some cinnamon rolls for dessert soon.

This is a pretty park.  The roads are sand or something and not the best but it actually is very pretty.  They had a pond where you can fish, but as Sue Anne said, not this time.  We were going to go deep sea fishing but didn't do it under the circumstances.

I think in December or January we will use some of Tom's miles and go to Key Largo for a few days, I won't drive down there anyway.  Kind of changed some plans after all this.

[PatrioticStabilist]

On a very sad note, Tom's best friend died night before last, I stayed up late to call and tell him last night.  Last time he was home we had dinner with he and his wife and another friend and his wife.  Both were very sick.  His other friend just went into the hospital for surgery on 2 bones in his neck pinching his spinal column.  They are wanting to fix this he is in so much pain before they start chemo on his leukemia.  We do not think his prospects are good.  He bought a new TT last year I think hoping to travel with his wife.  She had to have foot surgery and is having a time.  Both the guys are younger then us, under age 60.That was one the things that helped convince Tom to let Sue Anne and I travel.  He said you know I really like what I am doing and I just don't want to quit.

Yes, he sits on the patio in the evening and watches the fish jump in the bay there, he said its almost a frenzy.  Then sometimes from the office window they see dolphins in the ocean.  Some guys have seen whales and he went several times to look but hasn't seen them yet.  I would like that too.  I would love a job like he has and he even gets paid for it.  He says well 3 more years I hope, then he says, well age 70 wouldn't be to bad.  I'm sure if he works till 70 he will quit then. But man that is only 5 more years!! and time goes by so fast.

Of course you know I said well, I wish I had got a motorhome just a little bigger but we would lose to much money selling this one, sooooo. I would like a W/D, that is a real pain.

[workingtorv]

I think you said something like that before you got this motorhome even after fixing the other one all up you still got a newer and bigger one.  I would not be surprised if you get a bigger motorhome so you could have your washer and dryer.  Good for you if you do..

[PatrioticStabilist]

No. I think not this time.  We have some other things we would like to do.  Tom needs his garage built and we delayed it again buying this.  I want him to have it, so I shall just suffer using a laundromat, such is life you know. Also he got me a tow car and we had a cover for the motorhome built, that's enough for now.

I am having a new 95% efficient furnace put in the house when I get home, ours is 20 years old and gas, we want to do it while funds are much easier to come by, also will be eligible for some rebate, there is no income ceiling like many things on this particular item and we have already done all the others. We planned to do that this year but Tom said wait until it cools off the guys will do a better job, then when they are smothering in the attic.

The wind was not blowing last night and it got 34.  I had to get up and turn the furnace down, Sue Anne got to hot.  But I'm wondering about my propane gauge right now.  We have ran the furnace 2 or 3 nights, heated hot water, and cooked and baked and it still says 3/4's of a tank. Also the fridge runs off it, that just doesn't seem right.  It has been correct before though, hummm.

Well time to do my chores.  Cook some breakfast, I'm thinking scrambled eggs and bacon, with toast.  Sue Anne and I straightened the bedroom, need to pull in the slide.  Also time to change kitty litter.  Sue Anne fed and watered Black so that is done.  I think we both slept well for a change.  I slept on my sides and not my back, she did the same she said.  That helped my posterior some. So another beautiful day on this earth.  Any day above has to be a good one.  Seeing and hearing about Tom's friends makes you appreciate each day even with minor, actually very minor health issues.  May today be a good one for all of you too.

[PatrioticStabilist]

We are in Mississippi, driving much better today.  We are both ready to get home now.  Once we start getting closer and especially with the cool weather, not as much fun. I am sure I have a lot to do when I get home.

Wouldn't have stopped now but the poor old tailfeathers needed a break.

Ok onward!

[PatrioticStabilist]

Good driving day today, made it to Lake Charles, La.  Went to one of the riverboat casinos for awhile,  Sue Anne put in money and won it back so she lost nothing, I lost about $40, durn.  We had a good dinner then moved on.  Stayed at A + campground in Sulphur, Lousiana, a really nice campground for $25 a night, full hookups, spotless, includes cable and internet!

[PatrioticStabilist]

On the downhill run, will get in home today.  Lots of cleaning in the motorhome to be done.  Sue Anned is taking even less junk next time believe me and I'm unloading some stuff out of the bins I don't use.

I think we got real low on propane, yesterday it dropped from 3/4's full which I knew couldn't be to 1/3.  We hit a really bad section of I 10 from the Atchafalya basin for maybe 30 miles that about beat us to death, likely made the gauge move though!

So fill up on that this morning and we are gone.  Taking 10 in then the Hardy Toll Road, end to another nice sojourn, Later all! 

[PatrioticStabilist]

My fall has resulted in a sacral fracture, I can say its painful.  My chiro referred me to an ortho specialist and I have an appointment Friday.  I hope that it results only in pain killers and not surgery, we shall see.

[brens]

Sorry to hear about that.

[ArdraF]

No wonder you were hurting!  Hopefully, it will be an easy fix.  Spinal surgery is always a last resort, so get another opinion or two before going down that road.

ArdraF

[PatrioticStabilist]

The only measure I can give of the pain is its like right after childbirth when everything feels like its pulled apart but with more pain. The chiro said that is a pretty apt explanation of it.

I will not have surgery unless its the last resort and I will have multiple opinons before resorting to that.  I have a feeling it will just be waiting for it to heal.  But OTC stuff isn't touching it.  About all I can do is take 2 tramadols and a melantonin at night to get a few hours sleep, then its over.  I hope he can help me with that on Thursday if nothing else, I'm just miserable.

I'm also icing down in the evening and that helps for a bit.  Just one of those things.  Just lucky I don't have osteoporosis as that would be a horrible situation then.  I'm sure It will come out fine, but right now I wish it were over.

[PatrioticStabilist]

Our motorhome cover was done when I got home.  I put the motorhome under it and opened the slides, it still has room to spare on the side.  I hear stuff peppering on the roof of the cover so know its protecting it.  Tom's truck was sitting out and so nasty from tree stuff I not only had to have it washed but soaked to get it off.  This would be that same.  I was going to wash and clean all the bugs off the front but can't right now.  I may try to at least wash the bugs off the front of it if nothing else, if I can.

[workingtorv]

You are best just to stay put.  I was worried that you did in fact have a fracture and I am terribly sorry to hear about that.  These small things happen out of the blue and look at the mess you are in, I truly am feeling for you and hope you get better each day so you can get back out there.  Do rest though, that is about the only option at the current time you have.

[PatrioticStabilist]

I might get my tenant to do it for me, he wouldn't mind.  He said if I needed him to he would go to the store if I make a list but that isn't necessary. I hurt but I can still get around and do things, just being careful about what I take on till I go to the ortho guy on Thursday.

He did mulch our 2 acre yard and rake up a bunch of leaves for me.  A really nice guy.  He has lived beside us for almost 12 years now and as hubby says he is almost a part of the family.  He only has a sister and an elderly aunt that do not live around here and has never been married.  I believe he is about 66 now.  But he runs most every morning and looks about 50.  He and his dog go to the lake daily and he still does occasional contract work so I think he enjoys being able to do stuff at times. He is truly a nice man and has helped us a lot with Tom gone. He and I used to work on rentals, we have insulated, pumped out septics, don't ask, and painted more then I care to think about, but I told him it was getting to be to much, especially for me I just couldn't keep up my end anymore. So I hire a younger guy now and he gets helpers if he needs them, I'm backing out of that type of  physical labor more and more.  Then we sold a couple before the crash as I didn't want to keep doing so much.  Glad I did now, if Tom were retired and home would have kept them but to much for me. I only have 5 renters now and 1 is just a lot.  When Tom retires we have 6 RV lots at Lake Conroe, not waterfront we intend to rent.  We have 2 Silver Streaks we are putting on 2 of them, they need some work but not a lot, they are fine old trailers.

[PatrioticStabilist]

Some pics of our trip, kitty, Orlando KOA park, and us

Some good pics of our kitty on Halloween night

[PatrioticStabilist]

Tom is home, YAH!

Already he fixed my awning screw I undid to far and couldn't get back on.

There was nothing wrong with the air compressor except for the end piece he had on it.  He changed it out for a different one and now I can air up my tires if need be, it is pumping up to 120psi, so ok.  I am thrilled with that. That just might save me a tow at some point in time or someone else if they need help.

He is starting to work on the air brake connection deal for the toad.  He brought the keys in, said I locked the motorohome and took them out so each of us would remember I have the brake line unhooked right now.  Probably a good thing for me.

He has to look at my Direct TV, the box won't even power on, why??

I also want to replace the living room blinds, I HATE what is in there, shouldn't take much to do.

A few other things, the drawer in the bedroom, seems like there was something else, hummm.


He brought some porcupine quills home and a fossil from Angola.  One of those quills is 10 inches long and they are sharp. He said the area is littered with huge fossils and  he will go back and see if he can find some the size of a dinner plate.  I guess some of the guys found some. He said all that stuff will be bulldozed when they start building there.  Such a shame.

[PatrioticStabilist]

Tom bought 2 new headlamp bulbs, the Silver Star 9006, supposed to be the brightest and whitest light.  He said they won't last as long as the others but they are brighter, shine further and on each side more, $50 for those!

Now I have a motorhome with hydraulic brakes and a tow car with air brakes, that's pretty neat.  He is hooking up, figuring out how to adjust and stuff before he shows me.  I will need a manual for all this! I like that whoosh sound when braking, that's neat.

I told him Sue Anne and I could just live in it.  He said well we could sell everything and buy a great big one, no, not at this point, don't want to do that.  But it sure is a nuisance to have to come back home again. But he said we could never buy another house, no, don't want to do that.


He has to look at my Direct TV and see what's going on with it, I'm not very pleased with that and a W/D will fit in the space I have, just hate to spend $1300 bucks for that.

[PancakeBill]

Stackable W/D can cost $1300, a combo is more specialized.  $1300 is about right.  Just a lot of time for payback vs. laundramat.  At least in quarters, but in time and grief?  About 2 loads.

[PatrioticStabilist]

That was one of those Splendide combo units I looked at online.  If we put a stack unit in there, no TV at that location.

Tom said I would probably spend all my time trying to dry stuff on 110, but I was thinking vented, wouldn't that do better?

I don't know about payback, I must have spent over $50 at laundromats for just a few loads, that was 3 times going. Most of them ran 6 minutes for $.25, do you know how many quarters it took to dry anything?  The price was awful.

[PancakeBill]

The Splendide is pretty much the standard in combo's, but I believe there is another to be reckoned with now, at a higher cost.  Figure about 3 to 4 hours for a load. 

[ArdraF]

Carolyn,

You definitely do NOT want UNvented!  The vented ones take long enough for drying and I've never talked with anyone who likes their unvented units.  By the way, there have been some previous threads on W/Ds and most of us have found tricks, such as doing laundry more frequently (daily or every other day), in smaller loads, pulling clothes out when still damp and hanging to finish drying.  These all minimize wrinkles and drying time.

I prefer the combination Splendide because I'd lose too much storage space with the stacked.  I have a gigantic upper storage area that I love.  Kind of makes up for the storage I lost in the galley by getting a propane range and oven. 

ArdraF

[PatrioticStabilist]

I know not to get one that is not vented.  I wouldn't have room for a stack but that would be better.  Tom, isn't to thrilled about it so I doubt I get one, only when he likes the mod does it seem to happen.

[PatrioticStabilist]

I decided to delete this post.  Probably better left unsaid

[ArdraF]

Carolyn,

I had a comment, but I also will take your lead and delete.

ArdraF

[PatrioticStabilist]

I told him what I had said and he goes well you know I will be safe.  I said well I can never judge if you are kidding me or mean it.  So I guess once again he is being his (silly?) self.  I wish he wouldn't do that. He knows when he does that I can never tell for sure if he means it or notand I am basically a serious person about stuff like that, you would think I would know after all these years.

[PatrioticStabilist]

Here we are heading north next week.  Supposed to be getting cold and raining, also in the mid area of the country it said a big very cold front moving in.  Brrrr

See Accuweather report.
Edit: Removed copyright material and inserted link to source.

Thanks for doing that, I never even thought about it.