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| September 2010 |
September 27 - 30, 2010
Monday, September 27. After finishing our painting project yesterday, we both realized that the trim around a living room window didn't get painted and we also decided that another short wall (on the opposite side of the kitchen doorway) should be green. I got right on that this morning, as we got notice that the water to the park would be shut off some time between 10am and 4pm today. It didn't take long to finish up. Sure does look nice and I'm so glad that we decided to cover up the ugly paneling. We took off the marking tape, Mike hung pictures back up and it is home sweet home. Phase II photos are posted in the gallery.
Next phase - pulling up the carpet and laying the laminate floor. We haven't even made the decision on which floor. A trip to Lowes this afternoon added a few more options to the list.
The utility lines are being marked in the back yard so I can dig holes for planting a few trees back there. The markings are good for 2 weeks, so I guess I'd better get onto that project or find a way to save them. It's still too hot to get out there and dig - this entire week is expected to be above 100 degrees. Folks are complaining that its not cooling down as it usually does this time of year.
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September 20 - 26, 2010
Tuesday, September 21. Frisco had his annual checkup yesterday and all is good with him. Our pocketbook is down by $300 but if he stays healthy all year - that is not a problem. We also connected with Allan and Sharon yesterday afternoon, it was so nice to see them again. They were out running errands and we were returning the cable that we bought to Best Buy, so we met at In N Out for a burger. We then drove to their house to see their new AC unit (it went out just a day after they returned from their summer travels).
Today I started masking off the walls for painting and tore out the little short wall just inside our front door - that was quite the project but it all came apart and didn't do any damage. We got an estimate from Castle Flooring on installing laminate - ouch! $2600
We will get another estimate, check for handymen in our park, and are also considering doing the job ourselves (Allan offered his help, as he has done it before).
Monica joined us for dinner tonight and it was so nice to see her again. We had a nice time together.
Friday, September 24. Somehow I knew that my posts would become less frequent. Its now been 3 days and all I know is that they have been busy days.
Wednesday started with my final appointment for the health problem that I was having and I learned that I have no health problem - YEAH!!! It was a hormone imbalance that can be easily remedied - or not - whatever I choose.
Thursday was day 1 of the painting project and we got the primer on all of the walls that will be painted. I'm so glad that I had done the masking and cleaning before-hand. Within 3 hours we were cleaning up the brushes. It was cool enough that we were able to keep the windows open and the fans on high long enough to air it out good before the AC had to come back on. It was near 90 outside when we finished but still comfortable inside - who'd of thunk it?
We also got the dried bugs cleaned off the front of the motor home - how could we forget such a thing? Fortunately, no damage to the paint but they were sure stuck on tight - it took a lot of scrubbing.
This morning, after forcing myself to go to water exercises (I had to convince myself that it was the right thing to do), I did my usual garage/estate sale shopping. I just happened to find a couple of nice ceramic planters for a total of $8 - that beats $20-30 in the stores. I also stopped at Lowe's to get the paint needed for the rest of the project. We decided to go with the same color that the previous owners had painted the walls, so that part of the decision was easy. In addition, we will paint one wall a dark green (should look real nice up against the new wood floor). We're still checking on a couple of options for installation before deciding if we should do it ourselves or pay someone else to do it for us. Naturally, we don't quite agree on that one.
Sunday, September 26. About the only thing to mention about yesterday was a trip to the antique mall where we browsed the booths for a couple of hours. We walked out of there empty handed and both of us consider that a good thing. As we were leaving the parking lot we noticed a sign for an estate sale, so stopped to check it out. Now this place would have scared us away from ever living in a mobile home - the walls were dark, the layout was atrocious, and the people that lived there collected nothing but flea market and dollar store junk. I pity the poor folks that end up in that place.
After a nice breakfast of biscuits and gravy this morning, we set about to do the painting and managed to finish the project. Mike painted the green wall, ran out of paint, got some more and then finished it up. That is until we both stood back and decided that the wall next to it also needed to be that color. Wouldn't you know, there isn't enough paint left to cover it - it will have to wait, as everything is cleaned up and put away. I can't wait to see what it looks like when we get the pictures back up on the walls.
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September 12 - 19, 2010
Monday, September 12. There were a few bills waiting to be paid this morning but the one that got to me most was a bill from Wells Fargo for collateral insurance coverage on the motor home. A notice came to us in June after we left AZ that we had to show proof of insurance or they would get it for us and charge us $4800 for the next year's coverage. A second notice came a few weeks after that, and then 2 bills for the coverage. Since we didn't see our mail until yesterday, we weren't aware of this. And they added the amount to our loan and doubled our payments for the next 8 months to cover the cost. No way!
The motor home is empty, clean, and tucked away in its parking spot a couple of blocks away. Its a good thing that it is nearby as we have several repairs to make and it needs a bath badly - its a bit too hot to be doing that right now, though.
We headed for the nearest Wells Fargo office this morning with our proof of insurance in hand. The young man that helped us put our minds at ease right away when he offered to fax the information for us and assured us that the charges would be removed and if we had made any payments, we would be reimbursed. What a relief. And if we would have read the letter more carefully, we would have known this and not just gone into panic mode - ready to tell the bank that for that kind of money, they could just have the thing.
Our gas is back on and the water heater is working. The friendly City of Mesa employee checked all of our gas connections and assured us that everything is in good working order. We sure have gotten good service from the City so far.
Tuesday, September 13. It wasn't a good night for sleeping for either of us. I was awake at 4:30, up at 5:30, and Mike right behind me. We decided that it was a bit too warm for sleeping so will turn the temperature down a bit and the fan up to the next level before we go to bed tonight.
I got busy cleaning the house and it actually felt quite good to get the 4-month build-up of dust off the surfaces - it really isn't too bad though. When I got started on the living room, I did a bit of rearranging and managed to get Grandpa Bridge's antique rocking chair in. We are both quite happy with the new arrangement, it looks quite homey (see photos).
Mike started his official guitar lessons today. It was a long drive, about 45 minutes in busy Phoenix traffic, but he felt good about it and will continue at least through the end of the month before deciding if he likes the teacher's method and is learning anything.
We headed to Home Depot to pick up a replacement lens for the light fixture in the kitchen - boy, does that make a difference! The old one was faded and stained, no wonder it wasn't very bright. We also picked up 2 new faucets for the bathtubs as they don't work real well - a project for another day.
We were both so pooped tonight that we were in bed by 8:00, after a short walk around the neighborhood - still close to 90 degrees just after dark. The forecast for the next week is for unusually warm temps, well above 100 - guess we won't be doing much outdoors except early morning walks.
Friday, September 17. I don't usually mention a lot of personal stuff here on the website, but it is also my way of remembering what's going on in our lives. I had a follow up appointment Wednesday morning on an endometrial biopsy that I had done in Wisconsin because of some "female" problems that I had started to have. The results are totally (I like that descriptor) benign and I heard again that I am a very healthy woman. Good news and a huge relief, as you can imagine all of the negative thoughts that were popping into my brain! But - I still need to follow that with an ultrasound next week to possibly determine the cause of those symptoms.
After the good news, we stopped at Costco to stock up on paper and cleaning products, then to Sprouts to fill up the cupboards and fridge. On Thursday, I shopped around for laminate flooring to replace the rather ugly carpet in the living and dining room. I will be getting some estimates next week and hopefully, can get going on that project soon. First, the walls need to be painted.
We reconnected with Nan and Dale this evening when they met us at our house and then we went to Vito's for pizza. As usual, it was yummy and is our new 1st choice for Italian. After dinner, we sat around and talked of the summer and whats going on in our lives.
Sunday, September 19. I started prepping the walls for paint yesterday morning, gave them a good washing, Then I headed to Home Depot to pick up stuff to patch the holes, masking tape, and KILZ. By the time I got back home, I no longer felt like working any more - oh well. I've got all the time in the world - just don't like to have the house in disarray.
Yesterday was a record for this area with temps of 107 degrees. I walked Frisco about 4:30, just a couple of blocks away and when I stood in the sun, I could just feel the heat on the backs of my legs. From what I hear, this is unusual for this time of year and throughout the summer, the highs don't last real long during the day. Guess its just like anywhere, you stay indoors when its not nice outside.
Mike got up early this morning and opened the 2 doors to let the fresh air in (while it was still cool enough that the AC wouldn't come on). I took my coffee to the patio and sat out there watching the lovebirds, hummingbirds, and quail flitting around, along with listening to their entertaining morning chatter. Once the sun came over the house next door, I retreated back inside and closed the doors to keep the heat out.
Mike got a brainstorm for a way for us to stream Netflix movies through an iPhone that is connected to the TV so the sound and video is seen through the TV. Off to Best Buy to see if they had a cable that would do it. The sales person said no problem, just connect and it should work. Right. It seems the Sony TV that we bought is proprietary to Sony products and it would not work. The same thing happened when he tried to connect his computer to the TV. It is frustrating because we know so many people with this type of setup but it won't work for us because we bought a Sony - there goes our loyalty to that company.
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September 6 - 12, 2010
Monday, September 6. Grrrrr! There must have been something in those steaks that Bob grilled last night, as we are all feeling a little under the weather this morning.
Regardless, we set about having another active day. Mike and Bob met up with Dennis and Aaron to see the movie "The American". It was much liked except for Mike who thought it was OK, just not the action packed movie that he expected.
Penny and I went to see Powell Gardens, about 10 miles east of where they live. I had never seen it before and really enjoyed our stroll along the paths of the perennial gardens, the water features and living wall. Wood sculptures of Big Bugs were also scattered throughout the grounds - very nice!
This afternoon, Mike and I went to see Stella and Josh's new home, a hidden gem right in the city. They have a 2 acre lot, hidden from the street, full of large trees and island flower beds - they are quite overgrown right now, as it is difficult to identify what is weed and what is not. It definitely has lots of potential.
We had leftover BBQ for dinner and we all retired early - it was a wonderful and busy weekend.
Tuesday, September 7. I noticed some itchy spots on my upper legs when I woke up this morning. Guess what - Chigger bites. I remember those nasty things from when we lived here and I must have gotten them when strolling around Stella's yard yesterday. Hopefully, Benadryl will take care of them.
We said our goodbyes to Bob and Penny but didn't hit the road until almost 10:00. We drove I-35 and the Kansas Turnpike the entire day, an easy drive in nice weather. We made it as far as Guthrie, OK. After turning off the interstate and heading to our the Cedar Hills RV Park, I got a deja vu feeling that we had been there before - it was the same park we stayed at in 2008 when heading to Texas.
Wednesday, September 8. Tropical Storm Ermine is expected to dump large amounts of rain and wind through Texas before heading off in a northeasterly direction. The radar maps showed that we would be right on the western edge of the storm, so we headed out - hoping to drive out of it. We just got on the road when I noticed a crack in the windshield, in the lower right had corner of the driver's side, about 6 inches long. Darn! It wasn't long and it had grown to about 12 inches. We now have to add that repair to the growing list of things to fix on this old motor home; the day/night shade in the bedroom needs to be re-strung, the crank on the same window needs to be repaired, a seat cushion needs stitching, and a latch on one of our outside compartments broke.
The drive wasn't too bad in spite of having rained most of the day. We were on US highways for most of the way and they were good roads and not very heavily traveled. We pulled into the Loop 289 RV Park around 5:30 this afternoon and got settled in for the next couple of days. We're out of the rain and the skies are blue. We plan to take in some of the Depot Entertainment District and Buddy Holly Center. We have both always loved Texas music, so are looking forward to a day of culture tomorrow.
We're not quite sure how this happened, but when Mike disconnected the Jeep, he found the front floors to be soaked. It must have leaked in through the doors or windows - no biggie - its a Jeep and can be easily dried out, especially since it will be in the upper 80s tomorrow.
Thursday, September 9. We headed off to downtown Lubbock this morning and the GPS took us to the Civic Center instead of the Buddy Holly Center in the old train depot. When we finally got there, the woman that greeted us was very nice and explained the many changes that were going on in the area. The Buddy Holly statue and Walk of Fame that we were looking for near the Civic Center has been taken down and will be relocated to the depot in the future. No wonder we couldn't find it.
The museum had a nice collection of personal items from his childhood, albums, awards, recording equipment, and a few of his guitars. Seeing this collection reminded me of the years that we went to the Winter Dance Party at the Surf Ball Room in Clear Lake, IA that happens every year around the anniversary of the plane crash where the 22 year old singer lost his life. We attended the event for several years, dressed in poodle skirts and rolled up levis. It was always a great time and we saw some great performers.
The art center was under construction so we didn't get to see any of that stuff either. Good timing on our parts.
We had lunch at the Triple J Chophouse and Brew across the street. There wasn't much else open, and not much happening in the middle of the week.
Friday, September 10. A long day of driving to get to our destination of Casey's Socorro RV Park, Socorro, NM. There's not much to speak of here, but a good place to park for the night and have good wifi, electric and water. We're both starting to feel the push to get home and tomorrow will be a long day.
The first 3-4 hours of our drive today was totally boring, nothing but flat plains, oil drilling rigs, and cotton fields through west Texas an eastern New Mexico. After Roswell, the terrain became much more interesting as we climbed into the Capitan Mountains and the Hondo Valley. It was a beautiful drive between Hondo and Carrizozo that took us through some small towns that we might just want to explore at greater depth in the future.
We're both pooped and ready to have an easy dinner and retire early - and we're in the Mountain Time Zone so it's not even 5:00 as I'm thinking this. Whew!
Saturday, September 11. Its the anniversary of the planes hitting the Twin Towers in New York City, such a sad event and I really feel for those who lost love ones. It was a very emotional day for us personally, as we waited for Ben to arrive home safely on his flight from Tokyo. After Mike made several calls to Thai Airways and the FAA, he was assured that Ben was on the flight - now it just had to land on US soil. Their flight was the only international flight allowed to land after planes were grounded. They were escorted by F16 fighter jets and landed safely in San Francisco. We are so thankful that he made it home safe.
Mike has been closely watching the front tires on the motor home, as it seems that the problem with the Jeep also caused a problem with the motor home. It no longer looks like they are safe to drive on and we had mountains to drive through today. Thank God there was little traffic and we didn't have an accident. Show Low, AZ was the first town that we came to that had a tire store that could handle the job, so we had the front tires replaced. It has been a pricey mistake, but it seems that is the way of RVing, you learn the hard way.
While waiting for our tires, I got a call from Jonnie bearing bad news that Marty's cancer is back and that she will have to start a treatment regiment again soon. Dang - there is just too much of that in the world today and I'm a firm believer that much of it is environmental. Our best wishes go out to Marty to get through this and move on with her life.
Today's drive was absolutely gorgeous - through western New Mexico and the entire distance through Arizona. You could tell immediately when you crossed the state line that it was Arizona. We were greeted by beautiful red rock formations, and drove by huge canyons, beautiful forests, and even saw some elk. We definitely want to go back to visit these areas again.
We pulled into our park and were greeted by all new roads - a pleasant surprise. The Peach-faced Lovebirds were chattering as we unloaded the motorhome and Frisco got to see the black bunny that lives on our street. Welcome Home!
We did discover a couple of repairs that need to be made - the water to one of the toilets won't shut off and Mike couldn't light the pilot light on the water heater. We're tired, so we will let that wait until tomorrow.
Sunday, September 12. After shuffling through the mountain of mail on the table, Mike discovered a notice from the City of Mesa that our gas was shut off because of a problem at the neighbors house. That was a relief to him because he couldn't figure out why he couldn't start the water heater. We really didn't need it today because a cool shower was going to feel real good after unloading the RV (Rose) and several attempts to light the water heater (Mike) and repairing a toilet (Mike). It turns out that the water coming out of the cold water faucet wasn't real cool after old. Go figure.
Load the laundry basket with stuff, take it to the house, put the stuff away, go back, get another basket full of stuff - this seemed to go on and on and on. It really was only 2.5 hours. The RV still needs to be vacuumed and have the surfaces wiped down (we don't want any little critters looking for tidbits to munch on) - that project will wait until tomorrow morning when it is a little cooler out.
I also managed to do some laundry which felt real good, especially since it didn't coast $3.50/load. It also gave me a feeling of satisfaction that everything that needs to go back in the motor home is now clean.
The rest of the day was just futzing around in the AC, getting organized. Sure does feel good. Frisco and I took a little walk this evening and stopped by Mary and Eric's house to pay them for their services while we were gone. They charged us $25/month to take in the mail once a week, turn the water on and run the faucets and flush the toilets, and get rid of any weeds in the lawn. They certainly earned it and we gave them a little extra to show our appreciation.
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September 1 - 5, 2010
Wednesday, September 1. A thunderstorm went through about midnight last night that sent Frisco up to our bed right in between our 2 heads. The thunder just boomed, lightening flashed all around us, and the rain just poured down. Bob said they really need the rain around here, as everything was drying out.
Friday, September 3. Brrrr! It dropped down to 52 degrees during the night, felt very refreshing but out came the socks and hoodie the last 2 mornings.
Yesterday and today I spent time at Rita's house as she was babysitting for Barley (her 2 1/2 year old grandson). On Thursday, he was very shy and just kept turning his head and closing his eyes when I talked to him. Today was quite different and we played hide and seek, did a puzzle, and just messed around.
I fixed dinner Thursday night and Rene and Mike joined us. Its always fun to be with the Crazy1 and they will be heading to the lake this weekend so this was our only chance to see them. Had a nice time.
This evening, we went to Cosco with Bob and Penny to get things we need for tomorrows party. About 30 people are expected for a picnic in Bob's back yard. We had a delicious spaghetti dinner and a few *bleep*tails, quite a nice evening. When Mike and I left to walk back to the motor home, Frisco took off on us, chasing something at the back of Bob's huge lot - he wouldn't come to our calls, so I ran up there and finally got him corralled. We have been letting him off the leash quite a bit the last 2 days, as he has been sticking right close by. I have also been working quite a bit on the sit, down, stay commands and he was doing so well. He sure wasn't listening tonight.
Saturday, September 4. What a wonderful day today was. The weather was a gorgeous, cloudless, upper 70s day with just enough breeze to keep us comfortable. We helped Bob and Penny get ready for the big picnic; getting chairs and tables set up and preparing some of the food. Before anyone else arrived, we chatted with Ashley and Chase while Chase's cute little 8 month old French Bulldog named Stella ran and played so nice together.
Randy, Julie, Ryan, Lanae, and Rick arrived around noon and we had some time to visit before others arrived. We got to meet our nephew Aaron's daughter, Olivia (born February 28) and our niece Amber's son, Lincoln (born January 29th) for the 1st time. They are both little sweeties. It was somewhat bittersweet as we all expected there to be a third little one in our family this year. I struggled emotionally a few times but was able to keep it all together.
Several members of Penny's family also joined us and we got to meet her niece Kim and husband Ryan that were on their honeymoon from Rhode Island. It is always nice to see them, a great family that we have gotten to know through the years, ever since Penny joined our family.
Half of my siblings and their families were together for the afternoon and we had a wonderful time. Bob and Penny are such gracious hosts and I so appreciate them opening their home to getting everyone together when we visit. It sure saves us a lot of chasing around.
Everyone left and we got everything cleaned up and put away, then sat out on the deck and had a beer and enjoyed the nice evening. A good topper to a perfect day.
Sunday, September 5. Another wonderful day with my family, starting with breakfast at The Classic Cup Cafe in the Country Club Plaza. Rita and Dennis joined us for a yummy start to the day. From there, we headed to the Nelson Art Gallery and strolled around the perimeter where the sculpture gardens are. We also took in some of the other galleries. Rita and Denny had to head home as they were babysitting for Barley this afternoon, the rest of us headed to the City Market. There weren't a lot of farmers with their wares, but there was plenty of fresh produce, spices, teas, flowers, and other goodies.
Naps, a few *bleep*tails (maybe a few too many, based on how I feel this morning), and yummy steaks on the grill tonight. It was a beautiful evening, nice sunset, and we enjoyed our dinner out on the deck. Lots of laughs and another great time.
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Created on 09/01/2010 10:28 AM by bridge
Updated on 01/23/2011 07:22 AM by bridge
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