No Rest for ….

The RV has been emptied – ok so the stuff out of it is all over the house, some of it even in the room where it belongs. 

The RV is at the shop getting winterized and the pump fixed.

The use of any two appliances in or near the kitchen (in the house) causes a circuit breaker to cut off.  Even the toaster and TV seem to do it.  The refrigerator has to be unplugged to run the washer.  I have the names of two electricians to call on Monday.  There just wasn’t time of Friday.  This is an old house and I have put up with a lot of electrical problems but it has to stop now.   The washer and the refrigerator should be on different circuit breakers. 

My car was used by my daughter while I was gone and now the brake light is on.  It was checked a year and a half ago and they said it had another year before brakes were needed so I lucked out by at least 6 months.  That needs to be done next week.  

Two dogs are looking very lost without their boss.  They are enjoying the fenced back yard and visiting with the neighbor dog.  Teddy, who I thought wanted to take over the boss role, now seems to just be depressed.  Maybe I misinterpreted him, maybe he was in love with Red.  

We are all a little down after the rush to get home but there is plenty to do and that will help.  I visited with my friends at the antique barn today and that was all good.  Lots of hugs all around.

Later….

Sad News

We arrived home just fine and the dogs were very happy.  Red was so happy she ran out of the house and leaped off the deck, only about a 6 inch step, and collapsed.  She managed to get back into the house and spent a restful night with some medication.  But this morning her back half was paralyzed.   A trip to the vet confirmed our fears.  We made the hard decision to relieve her of the pain and humiliation and had her put to sleep.  

She was eight years old last October 1.  She was the boss dog of all the dogs I had along the way.  She was a mix of breeds but the dominant breed is believed to be red heeler.    One ear never stood up completely and she was born with a cataract on one eye.    It never bothered her as she could still catch a bounced ball in the air.  

She chased away potential burglars one night with her bark, really.  I  heard them talking outside the window after midnight and heard them discussing which house to try.  Her bark sent their feet pounding away.  

She dearly loved the babies in the family and kept their faces and noses clean for them.  She didn’t know there were people that size for a long time but when she found out about them, she wanted one.

She rode in the passenger seat with me and would have navigated if she could talk.  Of course, she would have had me stopping at every interesting smell.   And if I got out I had to ask her to get out of the driver seat.  She sometimes had to think about it before moving over.   Her life was cut short but she did not suffer long.   She will be greatly missed….

Later….

Home

We are home.  We are worn out.  We are seeing semi's when we close our eyes.  Three dogs are very happy.

Later....

Cartersville, GA

4:30  We’re in Cartersville, GA.  Had no problems on the road.  There was a 5 mile long, 4 lanes wide parking lot on the southbound side of I-75 just north of Atlanta.   Glad I was headed north.  I didn’t see what had stopped traffic and it was only about 2:30 so I don’t think it was just rush hour traffic. 

I am at a KOA campground.  Ran into a guy from Beavercreek at the office but didn’t ask his name.    I have WIFI and cable TV so I can check the weather.  I am watching the storm that is coming across the country and will make a decision tonight about when to make the dash for home.

Pretty tired tonight but fell okay.  It gets me in the shoulders and I forget I can change the angle of the steering wheel.  The dogs are happy to be stopped.  They had several short walks along the way which is good for me also.  I managed to resist all the signs along the way advertising everything from ADULT entertainment to pecans and BBQ. 

Got gas twice as I don’t like it to get below half.  It was much cheaper in GA than it was in FLA.  Like $2.97 in FLA and $2.57 in GA.  That really doesn’t make much difference even though I pay about $75.00 for a half tank full.

Later….

Getting Ready to Travel

Sunrise through the trees, mist rising from the pond.  Our lake around the RV has dried up.

Getting ready to travel means checking everything, washing windows, stowing everything so it doesn’t rattle, adjusting mirrors, dumping tanks.  Everything has a place.  I have found I can close the bathroom door while driving by hitting the brakes to make it open all the way and then speeding up to slam it shut.  Probably use up a gallon of gas doing that.

The last minute things are messy.  When I wind up hoses and cords they have to be wiped off with paper towels and that leaves my hands dirty just when I am ready to drive off.   This trip I have the water situation to think about.  Remember – I cut the wires to the pump when it wouldn’t stop running.  I have been saving plastic juice bottles and storing water in the shower.  The dogs can’t be without water.

Somehow one of my mirrors got whacked on my last trip to town.  It takes several trips outside and back into the driver seat to get it right.  Every time I get into the driver seat I have to order Red out of it. 

Red rides in the passenger seat which was a problem when I traveled with my Sister last fall.  Red doesn’t give up easily.  She was just sure the umpteenth time she asked to sit there it might work.  Occasionally Teddy gets up there with her.  He is subtle about it and shares but she doesn’t put up with it for long.   He likes to travel sitting or laying beside the driver’s seat on the floor.   He gets a little car sick at first but settles down eventually.  I can give him a pill that helps.

Silly is easy, she travels on the bed and sleeps most of the time.  At age 11 (that’s 77 in people years or maybe more for a large dog) she takes everything in stride.  She is happy as a 2nd or 3rd dog and has never challenged to be leader of the pack.  Her best trick lately has been burping after her breakfast.  She seems quite proud of that.

The is a snapshot of the nature trail.  Part of it is still wet so we only went half way and back today.

My stomach is behaving very well today so I’m hopeful the trip will go well.  Don’t like stopping along the thruway.

Don’t know if I’ll find WIFI along the way so if I don’t post for a few days don’t worry about it.  My kids will probably call me or I will call them.   Running away from home isn’t what it used to be.

Later….

Rain

I now understand why Lake City is named Lake City.  It rained in the night.  Good sleeping but wet walking.   Red has figured out the sound of rain on the roof as she shakes as if she were getting wet when it starts.   Silly hates to jump out of the RV into water and my pant legs get wet.  Need to tighten my belt to hold them up higher.  But it doesn’t have to be shoveled like snow.

This is what you might call a waterfront site and they don’t charge extra for it.  I found out yesterday that they did have an alligator but it is gone now.  Someone came and got it for them. 

OK, so I rushed the diet.  Back to being very careful.  More BRAT diet, but I will mix in a little sliced chicken breast with the rice.  Guts are a hard place to heal up.  My Mother always told me patience was a virtue, and my great grandmother was named Patience Clementine so I should have patience.   There is logic for you.  Thanks Mom.

Later….

Lazy Sunday

For sure it is Sunday as I have been very lazy today.  Took a nap this morning and finally got around to doing some dish washing this afternoon.  Spent some time visiting with a friend this afternoon.  She is on Facebook, too, so that will be fun to continue our friendship via the internet.

In taking our walks around the park I see license plates from just about every north eastern state plus Canada.  Some people just stay overnight and move further south but several stay here. 

Today I added some protein to my diet.  I had a boiled egg for breakfast and a tiny slice of meatloaf with supper.  Yeah!  I may not be saying yeah tomorrow but it sure tasted good today.

Later….

Planning Ahead

Made the banana run this morning.  Moving is very exciting for the dogs.  They had a very short walk at Walmart as there was broken glass laying around.  As I left the RV park I overheard a man say he needed to get back to a simple life with a class C RV like mine.   I ran the generator so I could leave the fan running for the dogs while I was in the store. 

In checking the calendar my rent will be up on the 27th so that will be a logical day to start back north.  I am mapping out several different stopping spots along the way so I will have options depending on my energy level.

A beautiful day today with a nice breeze. 

Later….

No Pills – Day 7

10:00 a.m. Called and checked in with the doctor in Ohio as I was supposed to do.  Just left a voice message for the nurse actually.  I have decided to head home next week.  The oncologist here decided I couldn’t be having the side effects I was having since they are rare.  Apparently I’m a rare person.  He also is milking Medicare by having a doctor’s appointment every time I go for the Zometa.  He also has been criticizing my care I’ve been getting in Ohio.  Since he doesn’t think I’m rare I will stick with the doctors I have in Ohio.  They seem to be able to listen and respond to what they hear.  They know I don’t cry wolf. 

1:00 Did laundry this morning.  The sun is shining and the puddles are shrinking but the ground is still very spongy.  

I’m still on a very careful diet which seems to be working.  Don’t mess with what is working.  But I am low on bananas so I will need to make a banana run today or tomorrow.

3:00  The nurse has called twice to keep me informed.  I now have my next appointment in Ohio for Feb. 3.  She was happy that I am doing better.  A good nurse is sometimes as good as or better than a good doctor.  She was familiar with the BRAT diet and encouraged me to slowly add other foods. 

My daughter says she has found the weight I lost.  It’s nice to keep it in the family. 

Later….

No Pills – Day 6

10:00 a.m.  Yesterday was the best day yet, belly wise.  It was late evening before I had a rush trip to the bathroom.  I think maybe my guts have a bad habit that is hard to break.

It is raining and thundering today.  We are hibernating.  The dogs were really fast finding a good spot to potty this morning in the drizzle.  We made it back inside just before the big deluge.  Thunder in Florida seems to roll longer than in Ohio.  It has something to do with the flat land.  I have noticed that out west in flat country also. 

We have a tornado watch all day today.  When traveling you always want to try to know what county you are in since that is how they announce weather information.  If there is a tornado WARNING I will make a run for the office restroom.  There is a number code to get in.  Sure hope they haven’t changed it lately.

I think I recognize some of the robins who are enjoying the rain.  They may be some of the same ones who come to my back yard in Ohio.  The rain brings bugs and worms to the surface and they take advantage.  There are even cardinals here. 

After a rain the nature trail becomes an effort in navigation.  Low spots are puddles and a lot of what looks like a dry area is still mushy.  

4:00 p.m.  We have had one very close lightening strike that made the electricity blink and the dogs get nervous.   But the rain stopped long enough for another walk this afternoon.  There are puddles all around the RV, maybe more like a pond.  Silly didn’t want to jump out of the RV so we had to take her front paws and put them down on the step, then pull.  She made it fine and didn’t melt.

The tornado watch has expired and we are fine.  Nothing like a little excitement.

Later….

No Pills – Day 5

HAH!  There I fixed it.  That is a website which everyone needs to check out.

But I am speaking of my water system.  When the fresh water tank ran out of water the pump kept running all the time.  I unmade my bed and held up the half that makes the seat of the couch, when it’s a couch, and tried to unplug it.  I tried the circuit breakers to see if one of them worked just the pump but that didn’t work.  So I got out the handy dandy will-cut-anything scissors and, while supporting half the bed with one shoulder and using a penlight, cut one of the wires to it.   The scissors had plastic coating on the handles so I wasn’t too worried about shocks, well not much.  

So I fixed it.  Now I am committed to using the water hose to the campground faucet and carrying a few jugs of water when I’m not at the campground.  But I also won’t be burning up the pump until I get somewhere to find someone to figure out what is really wrong.  The pump isn’t supposed to run at all when I am hooked up to the outside water.  And, yes, I checked, I still have water.

So far today I have had no belly ache, well, not much anyway.  I even varied my diet a little bit by having a potato for lunch.  We Irish must have our potatoes.  I even put some margarine on it. 

Yeah for Massachusetts!! 

I’ve been meaning to tell about one of the papers I signed at the hospital when I took samples to their lab.  It said that no matter what they did to me I couldn’t sue them for more than $100,000.   That is the kind of law that they need to be thinking about it Washington.  That would cut doctor’s insurance costs and lower their fees to the patient.  We could try that for a while and see what difference it makes without jumping into the whole thing at once. 

Later….

No Pills – Day 4

Turtles know when to sit in the sun.  There is a log in the water that doesn’t show in the picture and the turtles are lined up on it.  I tried getting closer but they all slipped into the water.  So there is wildlife, it’s just hiding.  Haven’t seen any alligators or snakes yet but the turtles warned me to watch for them. 

The belly is still a bit nasty.  I have discovered that several in my family have been thinking of ways to come and get me.  I sure hope they don’t have to do that.  

The water situation is puzzling.  The pump kept running even though I was hooked up to the campground faucet.  The solution – drain the fresh water tank.  That seems to be working.  I know this isn’t because anything got frozen during the cold weather since the problem started before that. 

A beautiful day today and yesterday and a nice cool night for sleeping.  This is the Florida I like.

Later….

No Pills – Day 3

Breaking headline news:  Water on bed blamed on dogs.   Owner finally figures out it was coming from the water pump under the bed.  Must apologize to dogs. 

I sleep on a couch folded down to become a bed which leaves a crack in the middle.  Not the most comfortable bed but it works okay.  I put a sleeping bag on top of it, then add sheets etc to make a proper bed.  I kept finding a wet spot just below the pillow.  I have sniffed it, no odor detected.  I have washed everything a couple of times.  Finally figured out it is coming from the pump under the couch up thru the crack, onto the sleeping bag which doesn’t come all the way up under the pillow,  and on the edge of the pillow.  I have been filling the fresh water tank and using water from there.  That is efficient if I want to unhook things often.  I can also attach the hose directly to the faucet and not use the pump; so that is what I am doing now.    Such is life.

It’s always something.  I had Adventure RV in Springboro, OH look at it last fall after we had a wet spot on the floor in June.  They found nothing wrong.  But then they said my tires were good and the brake light wiring was ok.  

Rod, my first husband, used to say “you can’t get a baby in a month by getting 9 women pregnant”.   In other words, some things can’t be rushed.   So I am eating much more carefully and hoping to improve slowly.   I feel much better already but I was rushing the diet.  Potato chips weren’t such a good idea.

Later…..

No Pills – Day 2

12:00 noon  All I can say is, it’s working.  Apparently the Aromasin was making me sick.  I had to have a Dove chocolate to celebrate the first day since Dec. 15 that I haven’t had a belly ache, nausea, and diarrhea.  The saying inside the wrapper…. “Love many, trust few, & always paddle your own canoe.”  HMMMMM

5:00 OK so I rushed it a bit.  The stomach isn’t completely better.  I should have known it would take a while.  A month of yuck will take some time to get over.   But it is on the way and that’s very good news. 

It is very windy today but not raining.  My door mat keeps getting blown away.  I never did get those long nails to hold it down.  I tried soup cans and they didn’t work, too light.  I finally just rolled it up and put it inside the RV.   One of the neighbor’s chihuahua dogs got out when I was in the process of putting the door mat inside so 2 of my beasts got out, too.  Needless to say the bigger dogs chased the little one back to his home.  They just wanted to see what he was and I’m sure they would have a good time if left on their own.  But rules are rules so we all got our beasts under control. 

I have not watched any of the football games this year.  I’d rather watch Animal Planet. 

Later….

No Pills – Day 1

At 3:30 a.m. the drug induced sleepiness wore off and I was awake for a full hour before I could get back to sleep.  With no pills I feel better already although the trips the bathroom are still happening.  I didn’t realize I had so much nausea.  

I actually got hungry today and went shopping so I could put some bullion into the rice for a change.  I also dumped waste tanks and filled the fresh water tank. 

It’s a good thing I got stuff done this morning as it has been raining all afternoon.  Red barks at the sound of it when it starts.  She is sometimes a nervous twit.  This evening a little lightening is thrown in.  It’s nice sitting in a warm dry RV and listening to the rain on the roof.   I still walk the dogs but we take much shorter walks except for detours around puddles.  I can wear a raincoat, they can’t.  So that involves a towel when we get back.

Teddy is learning.  He has always tried to mark over where Red peed.  Lately he has been in such a hurry to do it that he peed on her which mortifies her.  So I have been teaching him to wait till she is done, then he can go.  He looks at me plaintively while he waits.  When I first got him he tried several times to mark on me.  Male dogs have a whole different slant on pee.  Maybe it has something to do with being a rescued dog.  He didn’t have a family for the first 2 or 3 years of his life. 

It is supposed to rain tomorrow, too.  That’s okay as long as I feel better as I do today.

Later….

Expletive Deleted

9:00 A half cup of rice, half cup of applesauce, half a banana, 1 slice of dry toast.   For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and I can’t finish it.   And, oh yes, a bunch of pills.  The toaster not only sets off the smoke alarm, it spits the toast out on the counter.  Also the cord on the toaster is very short, hey I paid $2.00 for it at a garage sale, and all the sockets are under the cupboards.  So the toaster has to sit on something to reach.  That is a balancing act.  After putting the smoke alarm outside I have to search for the toast that made it go off.  Such is life.

2:00 Got tired of waiting and called the urgent care.  They have had the results from the lab since yesterday morning.  They have faxed them to my oncologist in Ohio.  Everything tests normal.  If this is normal I’m a monkey’s uncle.   So I called my oncologist’s office and left a message that I am stopping the Aromasin pills for a week as the doctor first suggested.   I could have done that yesterday if someone had called me.  Ratzerfratzet & @#$%&@#.

I plan to feel much better….

later….

Finally Warmer

The weather has finally turned warmer.  I did a load of laundry this morning.  That and walking the dogs is about the extent of my energy.  I’m still taking all the pills I’m supposed to take and haven’t fallen asleep on my feet yet. 

If you want to see a story about my famous brother-in-law, Bob,  check out this blog http://tire-swing.blogspot.com/. 

Today I went outside wearing a t-shirt and an unlined windbreaker.  That is a big improvement from wearing about 6 layers of clothes plus a knit hat and gloves.  And tomorrow should be even better – just a t-shirt, maybe.

No news from the doctor today but then I didn’t really expect it.  I’ll probably have to run to the drug store for a different anti-biotic when they figure out which germ I’ve got.  I just wish they would hurry up.

Later….

Bananas Rice Applesauce Toast

9:00  Don’t think I’ll know how bad I’m feeling until I feel better.  I’ve lost 8 lbs. and my jeans are falling off.  Good thing I brought along a belt.  At least the weather is supposed to get warmer today and tomorrow.   Headed to the shower this morning and laundry later. 

By the way, I didn’t mention yesterday that the doctor at the urgent care dropped one of her rubber gloves on the floor while trying to put them on, she picked it up and used it anyway.  Really gives me confidence in the place.

One of these pills makes me sleepy.  That might be a good thing.

1:00  I talk to dead people.  Not only sleepy but very realistic dreams.  I’m going to have to cut back on something.    No laundry today, I might fall asleep in the laundry room.

6:00  I’ve tried different ways to eat the BRAT diet.  Tonight wasn’t bad.  I mixed the rice with the applesauce and ate them hot with a little salt.  When I make toast the smoke alarm goes off.   There are two alarms so the first time it happened I grabbed the wrong one and carried it outside.  Since the other one is on the ceiling by the door, opening the door got the right one to shut off.  Tonight I figured it out.  I picture people hearing my smoke alarm and seeing my door open and a smoke alarm flying out.  I just need to turn on the vent fan before I run the toaster.

Red got into trouble tonight on our walk.   She kept pulling more than usual so I stopped a few times to get her attention.  Then she found something on the ground that she wanted to eat.  I tried to get her to spit it out by rolling  her lip into her mouth and pushing it hard onto her teeth, she yelped and tried to bite me but when I got the leashes straightened out it was gone.  No telling what she ate.  I may find out in the middle of the night if it doesn’t stay down.  Every now and then I have to exert authority over her.  The other two aren’t so pushy. 

Feeling a bit better today but I almost hate to say so, knock on wood. 

Later….

More Doctors

2:30  Today I spent the entire morning from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 at an urgent care place, the hospital, and the drug store.  I got examined, peed in a cup,  handed over my stool sample and got some unreadable prescriptions.  Then they packaged up the samples and sent me to the hospital to hand them over to a lab.  There was another wait there, “fill out the papers”,  go to the lab,  as well as get lost trying to get out of the place.  Architects lay awake nights thinking up complicated layouts for hospitals.  Then wait at the drug store for the drugs.  One of them is an antibiotic and the other is to stop the diarrhea.  

I am trying the BRAT diet.  My sister told me about it and at first I thought she was commenting on my personality.   I looked it up on the internet.   B is for bananas, R is for rice, A is for applesauce, T is for toast.  I started cooking the rice but ran out of propane in the middle.  So I finished it in the microwave where it ran over and made a mess.  I can’t get propane until the office opens at 4:00 anyway.  Good Grief!  I think I will take a nap.  One of those pills says it may make me sleepy.

5:00 Nice nap, got propane, I’m ready to get on with things.  Oh, and no repercussions yet from the food I ate at 2:00.

Later….

Doctors

9:00 a.m. Time to call in the pros.  I have calls in to my general practitioner and my oncologist back in Ohio.  I don’t expect return calls for a while as Mondays are always busy at doctor’s offices.  I need to make a decision about whether to go back home now before I get too weak and rundown to do it. 

There is a skim of ice on the pond where the fountain is this morning except for right around the fountain. 

2:30 p.m.  Heard from the oncologist’s nurse.  I am to stop taking my pills for a week and see if that helps.  The liquid diet is helping but I can’t keep doing that forever.  I am also to see if I can get a local Urgent Care facility to do a stool culture.   So I have that to do.  The general practitioner called and said to do what the oncologist says.

5:30 p.m. Had another call from the oncologists nurse.  Now she says keep taking the pills until we find out what the culture shows.  Now I have perverse guts so we will eat food - YEAH – and wait for results….

later….

Quiet Sunday

A very quiet Sunday.  This RV park is very close to the intersection of I-10 and I-75 so they get a lot of RV’s that stay just one night.  The folks who are headed further south thinking it will be warmer. HAH.  Not much warmer – at least not lately.   There haven’t been many one nighters this past week.  There are pull-thru sites that can handle 70 ft. rigs.   That must include the cars the big rigs tow. 

Feeling better today.  I started itching and getting some hives about noon time and my stomach feels much quieter.  I even ate some yogurt this evening.  Hope I’m not sorry later.  There are weird viruses out there.  Maybe I’ve had one of them. 

I have been noticing just how many food ads are on TV since I’ve been on a liquid diet.  Usually I don’t worry about food, sometimes I have to check the clock to remind myself that it is time to eat.   I’ll be glad to get back to regular food.

I think Teddy is over feeling bad about his haircut.  He sat here and barked at me a while ago when it was time for their walk.

If you have a low YUCK response you can stop reading now.  Okay, I warned you.  I have these little plastic bags for picking up dog poop.  You put your hand inside the bag and pick up the poop then turn the bag inside out and tie the top and put it in your pocket.  On a cold day a bag of warm dog poop makes a pretty good hand warmer.

Later….

Old Friends

Just heard that some very old friends, not that old, just been friends for a long time, are reading my blog.  Some of their kids who used to play in the yard with my kids, also.  One day I counted bikes in the yard and there were at least 20.  We had weeping willow trees to climb and dress up clothes to play with.  I liked the kids at my house as then I knew what they were doing.  Once a Mother called and asked in amazement if I let the kids climb trees.  I told her, of course I did.  It was only a few days until her little girl came back to play but I sent her home to get a note saying she could climb trees. 

There were rules about climbing trees.  You had to be able to get up there without help from other kids and you couldn’t use lawn chairs to do it either.  A couple of times, when kids got way too high in the willows, I had to talk them down.  Like – put your right foot down six inches and there is a limb that will hold you, then move your left hand to the branch right in front of you etc….  And there were a few times cookies and kool-aid were enough incentive to get them down.  Good times, much simpler times.  I’m glad I’m not raising kids today.   It seems there is so much more to worry about today, or maybe we just know more about things to worry about.

The belly ache is quiet today (just a few rumbles) due to liquid diet and pills.  I tried some cup-of-soup by picking out the tiny noodles etc.  That tasted good.  I miss chewing so I chew the jello.   

This mornings walk was fast due to the cold weather.  The news said some parts of northern Florida got sleet but it wasn’t here, thank goodness.    Tonight is supposed to be in the teens, the coldest yet.  Hope my pipes don’t freeze.  The space heater has been running all day.  It’s supposed to warm up next week.    Right!  I’ll believe it when I feel it.  I should have brought those turtle neck sweaters I thought about.

Later….

TGIF

Friday used to be the favorite day of the week.  As a retiree it is just another day.  It means if you want to avoid the crowds in the stores you don’t plan to shop tomorrow.  It also means traffic gets a little crazy on Friday afternoon as working people hurry to get ready for their week-end.  I like Friday’s now just about as much as I ever did.

One good thing about a liquid diet is there aren’t very many dirty dishes.  The liquid diet along with the anti-diarrheal over the counter pills seems to be working.  I am getting a little tired of jello.  I might try some soup this evening and see how that goes but I hate to mess with what seems to be working. 

The dogs got shortened walks today as it is cold, high in the 40’s, and there is a wind, plus I am conserving my energy.  They didn’t seem to mind much.  Teddy isn’t happy with his short haircut.  I have to keep telling his he is still a handsome fellow.  Is it wrong to lie to a dog?  As a hair ball he was kind of cute but now that I can see his face he is one ugly dog.   I wrapped him up in a windbreaker and he really liked that.  He still is a very sweet ugly dog.   He has some bad habits which we are working on.  If he can find rabbit poop he will eat it.  He also will eat my food given the opportunity.  Haven’t used the doctored cracker trick again but I got some red pepper to add to the cracker the next time I do it. 

Later….

Weather and Chocolate

Why is the weather report never wrong when it predicts nasty weather?  It sure can be wrong when it predicts nice weather.  That is probably just my perception. 

It got up to 90 degrees in the RV this afternoon before I felt warm enough to turn on the roof fan and open a window and a vent.   It was very frosty here last night and the night before.  The outside water faucet was frozen yesterday morning when I tried to add water to my fresh water tank.  I waited until later in the day and it had thawed.  I tried to leave my water faucets in the bathroom and kitchen trickling last night so the pipes wouldn’t freeze but they tend to turn themselves off.  My propane is going down fast even though I use an electric heater.  I will try not to complain too much.  The farmers and orchard owners are in danger of losing their living because of this weather.  Where is global warming when you need it?

I’ve had to have a stern conversation with myself about whether of not chocolate is a liquid.  The chocolate lover lost.  Darn. 

Later….

All Clean

2:00 p.m.  There are three very clean, very beautiful dogs living with me now.  When we got to the groomers they suggested that all of them get a bath so Red joined the other two and got all cleaned up.  She had never been to a groomer before but apparently she did okay.  At least no one got bitten.  As you can see Teddy is the most changed.   He actually has a face.  Red isn’t sure she knows him, but the nose knows.  As always, Silly is beautiful.

I had a long hot shower this morning so we are all clean.  In fact I was barely on time getting the dogs to the groomer, 10:00 a.m.  Then I headed to Walmart for some groceries.  It was really strange putting groceries away without three noses checking everything. 

Then to the doctor’s office.  As to my treatment, I am to go on a liquid diet for a week to see if that helps my belly.  If not he thinks I should see a gastroenterologist.  If that is the case I told him I would have to head home as I have no support system here.  (Gastroenterologists order things like colonoscopies which involve anesthetic)  He offered to put me in the hospital for a week.  Oh goody.   I think I’d rather head home than spend a week in the hospital and have to board the dogs. 

So I went back to the grocery store and got a bunch of juice and jello.  I will try the liquid diet for a week and then make a decision about whether or not to head home.   Cheeesh.

5:30 p.m.  My cell phone rang at 5:00 this evening.  It was the alert system in my home town warning me of a possible snow emergency starting tomorrow at 6:00 a.m.  I am not to park on the street.    Let’s see – go home to snow emergencies or stay here and eat jello.   Well, snow melts, so I don’t have to think about it today.  I’m glad I’m here and not there – for now.  I’ll think about it

later….

Other Blogs

You may have noticed the new feature on the right.  Those are blogs that I read on a regular basis.  Because We Can  is my sister, Linda.  She and her husband, Bob,  live full time in their RV and travel around.  The Adventures of Tioga and George posts several times a day, he is quite a character, and his son Dave (Dave’s Home) has just recently started posting.  He is a foster parent. Mailorderbride is a woman from the Philippines who married a man from Oregon.  To get her story you will have to read some of her older blogs.  On The Road Again is a single woman who works and camps.  The only one of these that I have ever met is my Sister but I enjoy reading about their lives.  There are others that I read now and then. 

The picture above is a tent campsite.  The shelter over the picnic table is to create shade on hot days.  It’s a little crooked.  It doesn’t do much today since it is in the 40’s.

This is one of the smaller cabins.  I think you have to cook outside and use the bathhouse if you stay here.

This is an overall picture showing the tent sites and the cabin.  I cast a long shadow.

I’m glad I have the RV although I used to camp in a tent.  We camped in a 9x9 tent from 1964 thru 1967.  The third child forced us to get a popup camper as we just didn’t fit in the tent anymore.  Thanks Susan.   It’s really not comfortable sitting in a tent with bears roaming around. 

Not much wildlife here so far but I have a feeling there is plenty out there.  The dogs sure like to sniff along the nature trail.

Later….

I did it

Tonight I had about 3 bites of food left of my supper when a man stopped by to chat.  When I came back inside, about 2 minutes later, my bites were gone.   I knew it was Teddy as Silly and Red were madly clawing at the windshield and barking at the dog the man was walking.  So I did it.  I took a cracker, buttered it and sprinkled it with Alum powder.  Then I left it on the empty plate and went outside for 30 seconds.  When I came back in the cracker was gone.  Teddy was licking his chops.  Since then he has been laying on the passenger seat sleeping.  He just woke up and drank a bunch of water.  I don’t think he feels too good.  It may take several crackers to break him of stealing my food.  I have lots of crackers.

The man just wanted to know what part of Ohio we were from since he is from Ohio too.  We talked about the weather and I told him I had heard there was 16 inches of snow in Dayton.  That seemed to make both of us feel better. 

This morning the grass here was white and crunchy and windshields had a layer of frost.  We walked fast.  Somehow it didn’t take the dogs long to find the right spot to go potty.

I felt so much better today that I went venturing around town and picked up a couple of items I was low on.  Still didn’t find the Goodwill Store even though I found the right street.  Then when I got back, the belly ache was back.  So I’m thinking I’ll just have to keep taking double pills until a solution is found.

I made an appointment for the dogs to get groomed while I am at the Dr’s office on Wed.  That seemed efficient. 

Later….

Lazy Sunday

A little bird has told me that some people have been speculating about the picture I took of a man holding a little dog.  So, I need to straighten out a few things.  The picture of the little dog held by a man was taken on the way back to my RV after taking the picture of the sunset.  The man gave the puppy to his wife for Christmas.  She is one of the friends I have made here.  They already have two other little dogs.  The puppy was barking at me and lunging on her leash so the man picked her up and held her so I could meet her and try to teach her that people are nice and you shouldn’t bark at them.   I am not getting another dog, I do not have a boyfriend, I am not getting another tatoo – at least not right now.  So, girlfriends – get over yourself.  

A cold day today.  We walked fast for 20 minutes just a few minutes ago.  I’ll have to get out my gloves if it gets any colder. 

I’ve doubled up the stomach meds and that seems to be working but I’ll have to get some more soon.  I have a regular appointment with the Dr. on Wed.  Doesn’t seem like four weeks since the last one but I guess it is.  I will try to get some info from him but am not very hopeful.  

Later….

First Saturday of twenty ten

Glad I brought along at least one pair of long johns.   It’s supposed to be cold for a while – in the 20’s at night.  A dog at the small of my back and one next to my stomach.  A few two dog nights.  But they do that on warm nights too.

I think I have solved the problem of finding the Goodwill Store here in Lake City.  My GPS has very old maps and they weren’t all that accurate to begin with.  So I reverted to yahoo maps.  GPS was taking me to NW Main and the store is on SW Main.  Soooo, just go the other way on Main.  

Cold day, cold walks, worked on genealogy a little bit.  Played pogo a little bit.   Filled my water tank.  I have started boiling my drinking water to see if that helps the belly aches. 

Two years ago I had a problem with filling my water tank.  A little water would go in and then it would act like it was full and start gushing back out.  My brother-in-law, Bob, found the problem.  When you put water in, air has to get out.  A little bit of water was blocking the air outlet tube.  The solution was to put the water in under enough pressure to force the water out of the air vent.  If there isn’t enough pressure to do that I have found that I can take a deep breath and blow into the water inlet when it is clogged with the water that can’t get in.  It worked today.   Pretty good for an old lady.  I think it is a manufacturer problem.  The air vent shouldn’t be in a position to get blocked by water, especially when the water tank is empty.  I can tell the water tank is empty because it stops coming out of the faucet.  Duh.

I know, my mouth on the water intake – yuck.  But I drink the water, I kiss my dogs, my dogs kiss me.  We share germs.  Anyway, I’m boiling it now. 

Called my daughter today.  It was funny, we were instant messaging on the internet so I knew she was at my house so I called my number.  She worked hard today redoing my space at the antique barn and my friends all helped her.  It’s nice to know that my kids like to do the same kind of things as me.

Happy Birthday to my Great-Nephew, Justin.  

Later….

New Year’s Day

When you are a little Christmas present you don’t much like fireworks, especially when you can hear them so well with those ears.

The red sunset should have promised good weather for today but we had rain this morning, then some sun, and a cold wind finished the day.

I just spent an hour or so trying to put a name to these mushrooms.  They grow on a fairly clear bank with pine trees around.  I found a picture of one on a website and I plan to email these pictures to the expert and ask for information.  I’ve never seen anything like it, three parts connected at the top.   Thank goodness the dogs were not interested in them.  When I saw the first one I thought it was a piece of plastic because of the strange shape and bright color.  If anyone knows what it is please let me know.  When I searched for pictures of mushrooms I got quite a collection, including a mushroom cloud from an atomic explosion.

My plans for sleeping through the midnight celebration were spoiled by fireworks and dogs not liking them.  I learned the hard way not to comfort dogs when they get scared.  If they get attention for it they do it more.  I used to have to give my Great Dane a bowl of wine to calm her down.  Of course I had a glass with her.

Later….