Friday, July 9, 2021

Sunny, Broken Clouds, Temperature 92 Degrees

Update on Barb’s Brother, Harry – Prayers Definitely Needed

Out Numbered

Time to Clean Every Nook and Crevice

First, and most important prayers are much needed for Barb’s brother, Harry. After days with no complications and everything seemingly moving in the right direction, the bottom fell out today. He is currently in ICU and the next 24 to 48 hours are going to be the most critical. He is in the best place that he can be, and has a great team of doctors and medical staff around him and tending to him. We’re hoping and praying for a medical miracle and full healing.

On the home front. When we woke up yesterday morning we noticed a few ants around the kitchen window. Then a few more on the counter. Then a few more in the cabinet. We grabbed our can of Raid and gave them what for. Which didn’t seem to faze them in the least. They just seemed to keep coming. Moreover, they were spreading out. We were fighting a loosing battle.

We needed professional help. I made call after call and the answer was the same “We can’t get there until Monday.” If we waited to Monday they would probably have carried us out of the house by then.

Then, Ms. Barbara got on the phone. She called the company above and I guess her frantic tone was enough to convince the person on the other end to move heaven and earth to get a technician to us later that day.

Soon enough Steve arrived. He was supposed to be going home but agreed to stop on his way and help us out. He was the greatest. I have to say I have never seen anyone get so excited about finding ants. He found more than we ever imagined. He also assured us in no more than two hours time they would be no more. He put poison bait out in several areas which drew the ants to it by the hundreds. They then took the bait back to their colony and that was the end of them. True to his word, they were all gone in just about two hours.

Just as he was about to leave I sort of said we had also been having an issue with ants in Elvira. With that he said let’s go and out we went and he also treated our rig.

Today, not an ant in sight. Yipee! In fact, Steve called us this morning to make sure that everything was good. I like a guy who follows up. He also informed us he would be back on Tuesday to treat the whole house. We definitely picked the right company to work with.

About Elvira. Knowing that we were coming to the house I sort of let a few things go. Like a good deep cleaning.

Than changed as of yesterday. I’ve emptied out and scrubbed the refrigerator and freezer.

I’ve dusted and scrubbed the whole cab area.

I cleaned the counter, scrubbed the sinks, scrubbed the stove, and cleaned and waxed all the cabinets and other wood work from front to back. It’s a start but I still have a long way to go.

Allow me a minute, now, to mount my soap box. Many have asked me how I like living in the house. I will admit having a shower larger than a broom closet is nice. A large screen TV with a sound bar can’t be beat. AC that really keeps your living area at a comfortable temperature is sort of nice. But,

Back in the sixties there was a group called the Seekers. One of their hit songs was entitled I’ll Never Find Another You.

The song says There is always someone for each of us, they say, and you’ll be my someone – for me this is my sweetheart and my wife – forever and a day.

The song then goes on to say I could lose it all tomorrow and never mind at all But if I should lose your love dear I don’t know what I’d do For I know I’ll never find another you.

OK, the house is nice. I like living here. But for me, I could walk away from it tomorrow just as long as I had Barb. We still have Elvira and we would be just fine. I truly feel sorry for those who spend their whole lives always chasing after the biggest and the best. Living on the road for almost four years has taught one thing, I only need my wife and the simple things in life to be happy.

Thanks for taking the time to read our blog.  We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Remember, take time to stop and smell the roses and live each day that God gives you to the fullest.

Though we’re stationary for the moment, it will not be for long.  Our continuing mission remains: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before.

See you on down the road!

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Heavy Rain, Temperature 82 Degrees

The Prep Work Has Been Completed

I finally have my computer back. The last three days we’ve been in Jacksonville and I neglected to take it with me.

This time we decided it made more sense to stay at a hotel rather than take Elvira up. This was the little rock garden out in front of the Comfort Suite we stayed at.

Now, why were we in Jacksonville? I had two days of pretreatment before beginning my actual radiation therapy.

Yesterday, I had a procedure wherein three tiny gold markers were placed within my prostrate. This allows accurate aiming of the proton beam. It was probably the most uncomfortable part of this whole process. I said to Ms. Barbara that when I pass away she should have me melted down to recover the gold! There was one other procedure I had to endure but I won’t go into the details of that one. Suffice to say, it was also very uncomfortable. Thankfully, it is all behind me now,

Today, early morning, I was fitted for my very own personalized proton body pod. To gain maximum benefit from proton therapy a patient must be completely immobilized to ensure accurate and maximum dose delivery. The way this is done is by creating a whole body pod. They lay you down in what for lack of a better description is a mold made of a flexible material that is filled with air. They then push the mold against and around your legs and thighs and then when it is fairly tight they suck all the air out of it which results in it completely conforming to your lower body. It is now set so that whenever you lay down in it you end up lying in the exact same position every time. This allows the proton beam to hit the tumor every time.

That, though, is not the end of it. Once the mold is made you next go for an MRI. Using the MRI to locate the tumor they literally mark your body in certain spots with a magic marker which helps also to aim the proton beam during treatment. Those marks need to remain on you until the end of treatment,

So, I’m ready to begin. My first treatment is scheduled for July 21st. I have no idea, yet, how long treatment will be. I’ll meet with the doctor on that day at which time he will let me know. It usually varies between six to ten weeks.

With all my tests done it was time to decide whether we should head for home or ride Elsa out in Jacksonville. The decision was really an easy one, we wanted to be home. So off we went. Once again God smiled upon us. We had lots of rain, but little wind and we never encountered one road that was flooded. In addition, there was little if any traffic. It turned out to be a rather tedious but easy trip overall.

Arriving home we found everything in order. There was some standing water alongside the house but nothing that would cause a problem. I’m so glad I had the gutters cleaned and extra downspouts added on Monday before we left. As for Elvira, I could almost see her smiling since she was under cover and well protected.

That is where we are at on The Road of Retirement. Life is good. Tomorrow we’ll clean Elvira from one end to the other and get her ready to get back on the road. We’ll be moving to Jacksonville on July 15th. We’re both looking forward to living in her again. One again the last few days prove that we are two of the most blessed and fortune people in the world,

Thanks for taking the time to read our blog.  We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Remember, take time to stop and smell the roses and live each day that God gives you to the fullest.

Though we’re stationary for the moment, it will not be for long.  Our continuing mission remains: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before.

See you on down the road!

Monday, June 5, 2021

Scattered Showers, Temperature 88 Degrees

Getting Caught Up – Elvira, The House, Medical Front

Well, we’re more or less settled in. As you can see from the picture above Elvira is tucked into her new home.

I finally figured out a way to park Elvira under the port in such a way that I can, when I want, open all four slides. I put two safety cones a measured distance from the right side port columns and back her in alongside them. That gives me the room I need to open the slides on both sides.

It is really nice having your rig right next door. You can clean, pack, and just wander out and check on it whenever you want. In addition, since it is under cover no more worry about the sun beating down on it and drying out seals and caulk and such. Sweet!

Moreover, you can do what you want even in the pouring rain. The other day despite the rain, which was an all day affair, I was still able to get some work done on Elvira. I changed the anode rod in the water heater and cleaned out the burner tube. I was able to clean the black tank using Tank Blaster – this stuff really works. The following day I was able to get her washed and waxed. I then installed the front privacy screen, the covers on the windshield wipers, and finally the covers on the mirrors.

I’ve also had new brakes and grease seals installed. Lately, stopping had been somewhat of an exciting adventure. You needed to plan to do so a mile in advance. Which meant if someone cut you off, well, you slammed on the brakes and hoped for the best. But, no more. Josham Truck and Frame worked their magic and now my baby stops, well maybe not on a dime given her size, but you can really haul her down when you need to. They also replaced the grease seals on both front wheels since they were cracked and leaking. It’s one of the things I like about these guys, they don’t just do what you ask them to do, they make a complete check of everything and advise you of what also should be done. That’s why I keep going back to them. They are true professionals and their price is always reasonable.

On the house front, our turtles are out front. A sure sign that this is, for now, our new abode.

Harper has also joined us in the house. He thought it was pretty silly to stay by himself in Elvira.

In terms of the house, we’re down to the many five minute projects, such as replacing the outside back porch light and painting the back porch railing.

We also have some major projects to possibly complete, such as our grilling area. These projects may be dealt with in time. We’re going to wait a bit until we decide exactly how long we’ll be here. If this becomes our permanent home we’ll turn the area behind Elvira into a sort of outdoor entertainment area. We are also thinking of converting the downstairs portion of the storage shed into a Florida Room. Time will tell.

About the house. Maybe some of you will remember the program The Many Loves Of Dobbie Gillis. If you do, you will also probably remember the beatnik sidekick by the name of Maynard G Krebs. You’ll also remember whenever the word work was mentioned he would yelp Work! and jump with fear. That’s sort of the way I react right now to the words Our House. Whenever I think of this as being our permanent abode I sort of get a weird feeling and just shutter. Time will tell if that will change. It’s beginning to, but?

On the medical front. The latest MRI shows that after two hormone shots my cancer is in retreat. The doctor has informed me that areas that once showed indications of cancer, are now cancer free. Now, how about that!

However, the battle is not over. Today, we leave for three days of tests and preparation for radiation therapy. I’ll know by Wednesday exactly when radiation therapy is to begin. The tentative date is July 20th. The length of treatment? That we don’t know yet either. Things are moving in the right direction. It will just be a big relief for me to get the show on the road.

So that is where we are at on The Road of Retirement. Life is good. God is Good All The Time. Time to get the car packed since we have a three hour drive to Jacksonville and the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute. Enjoy your day.

Thanks for taking the time to read our blog.  We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Remember, take time to stop and smell the roses and live each day that God gives you to the fullest.

Though we’re stationary for the moment, it will not be for long.  Our continuing mission remains: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before.

See you on down the road!

God bless America, land that I love
Stand beside her and guide her
Through the night with the light from above

From the mountains to the prairies
To the oceans white with foam
God bless America, my home sweet home

Enjoy your weekend. Here’s hoping you’re spending it with those you love.