January 27, 2022

Temperature 75 Degrees

North meets South

We had new visitors from the frigid north, my sister Cindy, her husband Charlie and their dog Eddie. They reside in Wellsboro, PA and when they left this past Sunday it was 3 degrees with 3 inches of snow on the ground.

Unfortunately, they arrived here for some of the worse weather we have had in months. It is raw and overcast and decidedly chilly. I mean, we are looking at a low temperature on Sunday morning in the twenties. In terms of the weather we appear to be locked in a vicious cycle. One week we are enjoying sun and the seventies. The very next week the sky is gloomy and we struggle to get out of the sixties. Ah, winter in Florida. It still beats the likes of what others are going through up north.

Our visitors well be here for a few days before moving further south and then swinging toward the west and on toward Arizona. We’ve been looking forward to their visit for months. However, it is not a visit without its challenges.

Though I’m now on the mend from my brush with COVID, Ms. Barbara just tested positive herself today. Big time bummer. But we’re adapting. Everyone is wearing an N95 approved mask and keeping an appropriate distance from each other. Thankfully, our home has the room to allow us to do this. It sure does look funny, though, seeing everyone sitting around with a medical mask on. One would think we were all part of a medical team!

Come what may, we are going to make the best of things and have a good time together. We’ve already come up with some creative ways to have meals together. We’ll find ways to socialize at a safe distance so that we can really enjoy everyone’s’ company. I’m sure this time next year we’ll all look back at this and have good chuckle when we think of our COVID get together.

So life continues on The Road of Retirement. Overall, life is still good and we are blessed beyond measure. God is good all the time.

Thanks again for stopping by today  We always appreciate your company, and your comments and suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, live to the fullest the days that God gives you.

Our continuing mission remains the same: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before

January 24, 2022

Temperature 61 Degrees

Not me, Not Now, Not Never

That’s what I said for months on end.

I will never get COVID. Not me, not now, not never.

But you know what they say about people who say never.

Short, sweet and to the point.

Sunday I tested positive for COVID. I was absolutely shocked. I had a normal temperature. A slight cough. OK, the day before I had a slight fever and I had no energy. But that was all. You could have knocked me over with a feather.

Where did I get it from? I believe I contracted it from the crew that installed the windows. They were the only ones I was in close contact with for the past month.

So Ms. Barbara’s surgery had to be rescheduled for March 15th. With several weeks of rehab afterwards we’ll have to alter the start of our summer travel plans a bit. However, that’s not a big one. Surgery first and then we’ll go from there.

So life continues on The Road of Retirement. Life is never dull in these parts. But life is still good and we are blessed beyond measure. We’ll get this behind us and solider on.

Thanks again for stopping by today  We always appreciate your company, and your comments and suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, live to the fullest the days that God gives you.

Our continuing mission remains the same: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before.

February 21, 2022

Temperature 75 degrees

I Can See Clearly Now – New Window Install Finished

So the crew returned on Thursday to finish our window install.

They had the three front windows to finish. By the way, how do you like the new green look? All the walls in this house were a shade of blue. Knowing that I had to repaint this room we went with green. It’s different than blue that’s for sure.

The biggest issue they had with the front was removing the awning and then getting it back up.

They also had the three windows on the east side of the house to install. Believe me, it is quite a process installing the windows. I’m glad I didn’t decided to do it myself.

The two on-site supervisors diligently monitored the progress of the project from start to finish!

Our new windows are installed and today they passed county inspection. We are completely satisfied with the quality of the windows and the professionalism of the install crew. We would recommend them to anyone who needed new windows.

Time now to turn our attention to Ms. Barbara’s surgery which is scheduled for Tuesday of next week. To date everything is a go but that of course can change in a second. She had to go for a blood test yesterday because the doctor was concerned about one value that didn’t appear in the normal range on a previous test. We’re just waiting now for the updated results and the doctor’s decision as to go or no go.

One sad note to report today. Just a short time ago Barb’s sister Carol passed away. Unfortunately, today her husband Robert, Barb’s brother-in-law passed away. He died of complications from COVID.

Thanks again for stopping by today  We always appreciate your company, and your comments and suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, live to the fullest the days that God gives you.

Our continuing mission remains the same: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before.

January 19, 2022

Temperature 74 Degrees

I Can See Clearly Now – New Windows

There were two things we deemed absolute must upgrades for our home.

The first was a water softener system for the whole house. We had used a portable one in each of our rigs while we were full timing and considered it an essential item. Thus, when we moved in we decided to immediately install such a system at the house. After all though there are many things to like about Florida, hard water is not one of them. Yet, hard water is a daily reality for all residents of this state. Moreover, hard water is relentless causing all kinds of plumbing and possible health issues. So, upgrade number one was the water softener system which was installed our first month here.

The second major upgrade we deemed necessary would be replacing our old single pane, hard to open, and inefficient windows. However, making the decision to do so and actually getting it done proved a bit of a challenge. We eventually found and contracted with a company we felt comfortable with and we received an install date. But, like so many things in 2021 supply shortages created a delay that pushed the install date off till January of 2022. Until, specially today and tomorrow.

They said they would be here at 8:30 am and as promised at that hour they rolled into the driveway.

They began with our back bedroom window and in due time – after taking off a good deal of siding – they had the old window out and the opening prepped for the new window.

A question now for one and all and it is this: What is faster than a senior citizen with two wobbly knees and able to jump through an open window in a single bound? If you answered Proton you are correct. The window was out, I was standing on the outside, he ran from the living room into the bedroom, saw me outside, and launched himself out the window into my arms! The two window installers just stood there with open mouths. Ah yes, where I am Proton believes he needs to be. Oh, less I forget he also repeated his performance later at the front window.

Back to the new windows. They are double panned, low E glass windows filled with argon and double glazed. We believe they are going to be a big help during the heat of the summer. If and when we are ever home!

Installing the new window. The team we had really knew their stuff.

The new window in and everything else back in place. Looks good to me.

So, one done and nine more to go. They were also able to install the two large living room windows on the west side of the house as well as the kitchen window before their day was over.

So far I feel very comfortable with their work. They’re meticulous, professional, and hard workers. Their attention to detail is evident in a lot of little ways. For instance, they install a J channel above and down the sides of each window. And what impressed me is that in the corners where each section meets, rather than a simple block joint they take the time to miter each corner. A simple detail but an important one as far as I’m concerned.

So, we have four windows installed and six more to go. They’ll all be installed tomorrow.

So life continues on The Road of Retirement. This will be our last major house upgrade for this year. After this is complete we’ll turn our attention to Ms. Barbara’s surgery and getting ready to travel this summer.

Thanks again for stopping by today  We always appreciate your company, and your comments and suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, live to the fullest the days that God gives you.

Our continuing mission remains the same: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before.