Places We Have Called Home In 2020/2021

A Different Kind of Summer Again This Year

February 16, 2021

Temperature 68 Degrees

Family Day

Day after day it has been in the 70 to 80 degree range.  Then there was today.  We were back in the 60’s with a strong northeast wind.  Just perfect for sitting outdoors with company.  Well, sort of if you had a sweatshirt on.  Of course Ms. Barbara was the exception.

Today Ms. Barbara’s brother Harry and his wife Janet came to visit.  Usually we go to Tampa to visit them but today they came north.

We spent an enjoyable afternoon on the patio.  We had lunch together and spent hours talking about just about everything under the sun.  Harry is now undergoing a much more agressive form of chemotherapy treatment but he is holding his own.  Thankfully, he only has treatments every other week.  This week was an off week hence he was able to travel.  He has a long way to go and the outcome is still uncertain.  He can use all our prayers.

Around the park.

Ms. Naughty is ready for Mardi Gras.

And here she is celebrating with some of her park friends!

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  We’re now settling in for the night under some nice warm blankets.  Silly me, I put our heaters away the other day only to have to take them back out again.  We’re due for some more nights in the low 40’s and mid 30’s.  But of course there is no such thing as climate change.  Tell that to the poor souls in Houston and other parts of Texas.  Those poor people.  What freaky weather.

Thanks for taking the time to read our blog.  We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, live to the fullest the days that God gives you.

These are the voyages of  Elvira and her two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: 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!

 

 

 

 

 

Places We Have Called Home In 2020/2021

A Different Kind of Summer Again This Year

February 15, 2021

Temperature 83 Degrees

ACCEPTED FOR TREATMENT!

The first piece of the puzzle has fallen into place.

We received a call this afternoon from The University of Florida Health Proton Therapy Institute.  They called to inform me that I have been accepted for treatment of my prostate cancer.  Moreover, Medicare will cover the full cost of the treatment which is great since the entire treatment programs costs in the vicinity of $160,000 plus.

Why here?  After my diagnosis of prostate cancer I began to do extensive research regarding possible treatment plans.  In consultation with my urologist, surgery and the implantation of radioactive seeds was immediately ruled out.

That left me with only one choice:  external beam radiation.  This is when I discovered that today there are two types of radiation possible:  photon and proton.  The more research I did, the more uncomfortable I became with standard photon treatment.  There is the possiblity of lasting damage to healthy tissue and a number of possible serious side effects.  That led me to do extenisve research regarding proton radiation and where it was available. This in turn led me to The University of Florida Health Proton Therapy Institute.  My initial contact with them in turn resulted in their supplying me with extensive material regarding proton radiation.  And the more I dug into the subject the more I became convinced this was the treatment that I wanted.

But where?  I became convinced that I wanted to receive treatment from The University of Florida Health Proton Therapy Institute.

This is what I discovered about the Institue:  Since opening its doors, University of Florida Health Proton Therapy Institute has offered thousands of patients a promising alternative to traditional radiation. A lower risk of side effects, more precise treatment capabilities, and an impressive success rate make proton therapy an excellenty option for those diagnosed with prostate cancer.

What makes Proton Therapy Different?

Protons can be directed to reach only the areas of the body that are affected by cancer. This leads to more accurate therapy, with less risk that healthy tissue will be exposed to radiation – and this can reduce the risk of complications and side effects.

The type of treatment and who I wanted to do my treatment had now been determined.  Time to get to work.  We contacted the Institue about two weeks ago and they have been fantastic. We submitted my application and Ms Barbara filled out and submitted the multitude of needed forms.  The Institue in turn kept in constant contact with us, infomred us just what they needed to determine if I would be accepted for treatment, and answered our multitue of questions.    Then we waited.

Today, as I stated earlier, the call came I had been witing for:  I’ve been accepted for treatment.  I was over the top with joy!

Now we wait for the next steps to unfold:  intake processing and a face to face consultation with the doctors.  Both should take place sometime within the next couple of weeks.

While waiting I have two more tests I need to take: one will be this week and the second will be next week.

The important thing, though, is I’m on my way to beating this cancer within.

So, sometime within the next month we will probably be moving to Jacksonville, RV park to be determined yet.  So yea, we’ll be back to traveling, sort of.  Then sitting again for another three or four months.  It is what it is.

Thanks again everyone for all your prayers. I’ve said it before and I’ll continue to say it over and over:  we are two of the most blessed and fortunate people on the face of the earth.

Thanks for taking the time to read our blog.  We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, live to the fullest the days that God gives you.

These are the voyages of  Elvira and her two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: 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!

Places We Have Called Home In 2020/2021

Life On Hold – Departure Delayed Indefinitely

February 14, 2021

Temperature 76 Degrees

Worship At Colts Neck Reformed Church

Different Things

It was a rather different day today.  We had storms off and on throughout the day.  The winds were blowing 20 mph plus.  The weather report for the next several days is for more of the same.  Thankfully, it is rain and not snow!  We can handle that.

Our Sunday morning began as usual with online worship  at our home church.

Pastor Scott opened the service with the Call to Worship

There was special music provided by two members of the congregation.

Pastor Scott’s message was from I Corinthians 13 and the message centered on Love.  He began by stating that today  when we talk about success we usually tend to equate it with possessions.  In so many words, we tend to believe that the one with the most toys wins.  But he stressed that what really matters most in life is love.  He went on to say that love is about giving, giving of one’s self to others and it should be up front and visible in our lives.  He went on to emphasize that we need to love others even as God in Christ loved and gave himeself for us.  He concluded by reminding us that contrary to popular opinion true success is really found in loving others.

Our concluding song.

But before the service ended, in honor of Valentine’s Day a virtual montage of various memebers of the congregation on their wedding day was displayed.  Here are a few:

Service over we were ready for the rest of the day.

I spent most of the afternoon finishing a new book I had begun several days ago.  This author is new to me but I really like his work.  I’ll be looking for more books by him in the future.

I was able to take a brief bike ride despite the menacing weather.

Though I didn’t find Ms Naughty I did find a flock of flamingos.  I finally got the skinny on this flock.  Once they are put on your site, if you want them removed you need to make a donation to The Paradise Cares Fund.  This is a fund that supports local charities in the Bushnell area.  Moreover, whatever is put into it the owners of the park match dollar for dollar.  In addition to the flamingos all other fundrasers in the park work the same way.  I give this a big thumbs up.

Ms Barbara was busy today in the kitchen putting together a one dish casserole for our afternoon meal.  Let’s see it had corn, chicken, onions, and baccon bits   Another delicious creation of which I enjoyed every bite.  I’m glad we have some leftovers because I’m looking forward to eating more of it.

And what would a day be like if we didn’t play some Mexican Train.

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  Due to the rain the majority of the day we spent inside.  Quite truthfully, I’m beginning to go stir crazy.  The not knowing when treatment will begin is driving me up a wall.  But of course before that can be decided I have two more tests, one this week and a scond next week that I need to get through.  Then there is the consultation with the doctors.  OK, I know take a deep breath.  But that doesn’t work all the time.  Not with me.

Thanks for taking the time to read our blog.  We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, live to the fullest the days that God gives you.

These are the voyages of  Elvira and her two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: 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!

Places We Have Called Home In 2020/2021

Life On Hold – Departure Delayed Indefinitely

February 13, 2021

Temperature 79 Degrees

This and That

Down Memory Lane

 

Oh yes,  that sky looked ominous.  But then again it has looked that way many times in the past and nothing came of it.  Not this time.  About thirty minutes later the skies opened up and the rain came down.  Yet, it never lasts all that long.  This time, maybe forty minutes and it was all over.

Once it cleared up I decided to zip the new sun screen in place to see how it fit.  That’s when I discovered they forgot to put grommets in the bottom so it can be staked down.  Ah well, back to Talin next week to have that corrected.

I also was able to slip the reflectix in behind the privacy screen.  In the summer I put it here to keep the heat from coming through the windshield.   When it gets cold I put it up inside so that it reflects the heat back into the rig.  Got that?  LOL

Ah, a year ago.  We were in the process of switching from Graybeard . . .

 

 to Elvira.  My DW says if I ever think of getting a new rig, I’m moving everything myself.  That sort of makes me stop and think twice.

Let’s see, what else did we do?  Well, I started looking for RV Parks in the Jacksonville area.  I’m thinking positive, that being that is where we’re going to be spending a few months in the near future.  We puttered around picking up, vacuuming, cleaning out the refrigerator and doing the other usual household chores.

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  We’re still sort of on hold.  We sort of know where we’ll be going shortly.  We sort of know when.  We sort of know what RV park.  The key expression is sort of because until we have our consultation with the University of Florida we’re in limbo.  None of which, unfortunately, is sitting with we real well.  I want to be going, rolling, traveling – anything but sitting still.  I guess I’m about to get a really big lesson in the meaning of patience.

Thanks for taking the time to read our blog.  We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, live to the fullest the days that God gives you.

These are the voyages of  Elvira and her two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: 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!