Today is the last day of January, 2013, and I thought it would be appropriate to comment on the first month of the new year.
Starting with the weather - it was a disappointing month overall with mostly very cool temperatures and more than the usual rain. We only had 9 days with temperatures of 70 or higher which really limited the amount of time to sit out in the sun or enjoy outside activities without a sweater or jacket. Records were set for low temps and also high temps - within a week of each other. It would be better to have a constant range of 65 - 75 to make it a perfect winter, but, of course, we don't have control over any of that.
We did enjoy the month as far as doing some things we haven't done in what seems like ages - work on our hobbies. While traveling and working most of the time, we spend most of our free time visiting new places in new areas. We are very familiar with this area, so it was easy to spend the free time re-introducing ourselves to our hobbies. There are still some things to do like hiking in new areas and exploring other places that we have never been, or have not visited in years, so we can still do some of that before we leave in April.
Not much of the planned "work" activities were done - intentionally. The shredding and repairs around the fifth wheel will be be done in February while Josie does her stint at the flower shop for the Valentine's Day rush. We also haven't separated any of the goods to put in storage until we return next winter. That will be done next month.
Our diets produced excellent results in January. Josie is down over 10 pounds and I have lost over 15 pounds for the month. Her weight loss is more impressive than mine considering percentage of total body weight. We are loving the new menus and the restrictions have been very easy to accept. We don't miss any of the breads or sweets that we used to crave. This time it appears that the diets are serious and our weight loss goals are on target.
A highlight of the month was our visit to Laughlin where we enjoyed visiting a new hotel (for us) and winning enough at the slots to cover the expenses for our whole trip. It was also very cold and windy there during our stay, but the weather was not a distraction for us. It remains one of our favorite spots to visit.
February promises to be very different with some work and taxes to be done. Hopefully, we will find some time to get out and about in what should be nicer weather. The forecast is promising, at least for the start of February...
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Closing in on Tax Time
We have our mail forwarded to us from FL once a week and this week we had our first W2 as part of the mail. Usually, we only get magazines and, maybe, a couple statements from places like Medicare, Verizon and other accounts, but our bills are paid online so we don't worry about receiving those. The point is that we expect the next couple mailings to be loaded with our other W2's which means that tax time is about here.
This past year we only worked at two locations - Vista, CA and Jackson, WY - plus a short stint at the flower shop here in AZ where Josie worked a week and I drove for a couple days. Our taxes get a little more complicated by working in more than one state that has an income tax - CA and AZ. Fortunately, WY has no income tax so we don't file there. The added state returns just add to the paperwork and is another reason I couldn't do the taxes without a software package like Turbo Tax. The ideal situation is to work in WY and live in another income tax free state. The closest ones would be Nevada or Texas. Washington is also income tax free and we enjoyed that benefit for 20 years, although they get you on the high sales tax.
Anyway, tax time is rapidly approaching and I am starting to gather all the info I will need to complete them. I usually have them done in February and hope that holds true this year. Whatever taxes there are for this year will be higher next year based on what Congress is doing - or not doing. That's another story for another day...
This past year we only worked at two locations - Vista, CA and Jackson, WY - plus a short stint at the flower shop here in AZ where Josie worked a week and I drove for a couple days. Our taxes get a little more complicated by working in more than one state that has an income tax - CA and AZ. Fortunately, WY has no income tax so we don't file there. The added state returns just add to the paperwork and is another reason I couldn't do the taxes without a software package like Turbo Tax. The ideal situation is to work in WY and live in another income tax free state. The closest ones would be Nevada or Texas. Washington is also income tax free and we enjoyed that benefit for 20 years, although they get you on the high sales tax.
Anyway, tax time is rapidly approaching and I am starting to gather all the info I will need to complete them. I usually have them done in February and hope that holds true this year. Whatever taxes there are for this year will be higher next year based on what Congress is doing - or not doing. That's another story for another day...
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Furniture Issues
If there was one feature that we wished we could change in our fifth wheel, it would be the sofa we have in our living area. It is 92" and takes up the entire width of the rear of the rig. There is no room for end tables and we cannot utilize the outlets on each side without moving the sofa out a little bit. We actually upgraded to this sofa - mistake - thinking that it would provide an extra bed for us in the event that we should need extra beds for guests. Another mistake. The sofa came with an inflatable mattress that is separate from the sofa and what we thought was a integrated bed is not the case. It is extremely heavy and the only asset it provides is some additional storage under the cushions. We have talked about replacing it for some time now.
Yesterday, we went to a local furniture store that had advertised sofas and loveseats on sale. The problem is that RV furniture is not like household furniture which is much heavier and larger than the RV counterpart. Our biggest problem in replacing this sofa is removing it from the fifth wheel. It appears to us that the best - and maybe only - way is to remove the rear window and take it out the rear of the coach. We asked folks at the furniture store if they would remove old furniture while delivering the new, and they want no part of it for liability reasons. OK then. We didn't see a suitable replacement anyway so we left and went to our neighborhood RV dealer - Orangewood - to ask about furniture specifically for RV's. Their suggestion was this: go through all the rigs on the lot and choose the rig that has what you would want. Take down the VIN number and information on the rig and bring it it to the office. They then contact the manufacturer and order the exact piece from them which takes a couple months for delivery and is an expensive process. Sheesh!
It isn't going to be as easy as we thought to replace the sofa. We kick ourselves for not doing the proper research before ordering this sofa in the first place. The standard equipment would have been a decor matching loveseat with end tables and was a perfect solution. Maybe we can contact our Doubletree manufacturer and try to order that original setup directly from them. We'll give it a try.
We ended this stretch of rainy weather with 6 consecutive days of measurable rain. I don't remember ever seeing such a stretch except in WA where it is common. It seems like almost every day that there are weather extremes somewhere in the country that point to changes in our normal weather patterns everywhere in the country - and maybe the world. It's a little scary to think about what is happening with our global warming phenomena...
Yesterday, we went to a local furniture store that had advertised sofas and loveseats on sale. The problem is that RV furniture is not like household furniture which is much heavier and larger than the RV counterpart. Our biggest problem in replacing this sofa is removing it from the fifth wheel. It appears to us that the best - and maybe only - way is to remove the rear window and take it out the rear of the coach. We asked folks at the furniture store if they would remove old furniture while delivering the new, and they want no part of it for liability reasons. OK then. We didn't see a suitable replacement anyway so we left and went to our neighborhood RV dealer - Orangewood - to ask about furniture specifically for RV's. Their suggestion was this: go through all the rigs on the lot and choose the rig that has what you would want. Take down the VIN number and information on the rig and bring it it to the office. They then contact the manufacturer and order the exact piece from them which takes a couple months for delivery and is an expensive process. Sheesh!
It isn't going to be as easy as we thought to replace the sofa. We kick ourselves for not doing the proper research before ordering this sofa in the first place. The standard equipment would have been a decor matching loveseat with end tables and was a perfect solution. Maybe we can contact our Doubletree manufacturer and try to order that original setup directly from them. We'll give it a try.
We ended this stretch of rainy weather with 6 consecutive days of measurable rain. I don't remember ever seeing such a stretch except in WA where it is common. It seems like almost every day that there are weather extremes somewhere in the country that point to changes in our normal weather patterns everywhere in the country - and maybe the world. It's a little scary to think about what is happening with our global warming phenomena...
Monday, January 28, 2013
Phoenix Open Plans
While watching the rain for the fourth straight day, we decided to plan an outing this weekend. The Phoenix Open is an annual tournament on the PGA Tour that we have been to in the past and enjoy watching in person. The last time we went was probably six or seven years ago, and we have noticed from the descriptions for this year's tournament that many changes have been made - particularly on the 16th hole which the Pros agree is the most challenging par 3 hole they play all year. Not because of it's difficulty as much as having thousands of cheering fans surrounding the entire hole creating a stadium atmosphere. The hole is literally surrounded by fans, screaming and yelling with every stroke. It appears that they have built temporary stands around the hole to maintain better control of the crowds. We aren't sure if we will go on Friday or Saturday, but we will buy our tickets at the gate so it doesn't matter. It appears from the forecast that the weather will cooperate for the weekend.
We are still contemplating a hike this weekend as we are getting close to another period of "work" while we are here. Our training class at the Surprise Stadium will be on February 5, and Josie begins her Valentine's Day schedule on the 9th. We expect the entire month of March to be hectic with a schedule at the stadium to keep us busy all but about 5 days during that month. It seems like there is always something "bumping" our hiking plans, but we are still trying.
We have actually had 5 consecutive days of measurable rain (including this morning) and expect it all to end today. Along with the end of the rain, we will see temps in the 70's again by the end of the week. Hallelujah...
We are still contemplating a hike this weekend as we are getting close to another period of "work" while we are here. Our training class at the Surprise Stadium will be on February 5, and Josie begins her Valentine's Day schedule on the 9th. We expect the entire month of March to be hectic with a schedule at the stadium to keep us busy all but about 5 days during that month. It seems like there is always something "bumping" our hiking plans, but we are still trying.
We have actually had 5 consecutive days of measurable rain (including this morning) and expect it all to end today. Along with the end of the rain, we will see temps in the 70's again by the end of the week. Hallelujah...
Sunday, January 27, 2013
More Records
It seems like records for weather are being set every week this winter. Yesterday was a day of records for rainfall on that date. We only had .57" at our location, but records were set in several areas surrounding us that went up to 1.75" for yesterday's date. Just last week we set records for high temperatures (80's) so you never know. The high yesterday was 61.
Our day was spent inside, as expected, with the exception of a trip to the clubhouse for our exercise routine. The forecast is for more showers today although not as much as we had yesterday. So, with the day being a "watch it rain" day, there isn't anything else to report...
Our day was spent inside, as expected, with the exception of a trip to the clubhouse for our exercise routine. The forecast is for more showers today although not as much as we had yesterday. So, with the day being a "watch it rain" day, there isn't anything else to report...
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Phoenix RV Show
As planned, we went to the "mini" RV show at the Stadium in Glendale. We didn't realize how big the La Mesa RV dealer was until we saw the show and found out from a salesman that they had 13 stores in 4 states - AZ, NM, CA and FL. They carry several different brands, including Holiday Rambler, Heartland (which makes several different lines) and Winnebago. Their motorhome line includes the top brands made by Tiffin, Itasca and Winnebago. We were surprised to discover that Winnebago now makes travel trailers in addition to motorhomes. Actually, 2013 is the first year for those. The entire stadium floor was filled with rigs, plus some outside.
We were primarily interested in getting some idea about travel trailers for future consideration. We have some ideas as to what we would want, but we had no clue about prices and options. It was a very interesting and fun trip as we discovered a couple trailers that would be perfect for weekending and possible seasonal use. Our two favorites were this 29' Heartland Prowler:
which was selling at the show for $24,000, and this 30' Winnebago:
which was selling at the show for $28,000. The only thing we didn't like about the Prowler was the ridged aluminum siding where we would prefer the smooth sides of fiberglass.Of course, we were only looking at possibilities, so we don't know about detailed options at this point.
The one brand that they carry but was not present at this show was the Holiday Rambler line that we have always liked. Since the economic downturn, many brands, including Holiday Rambler, have been absorbed and merged with other brands. Heartland - makers of the Montana fifth wheel - also sell the Prowler brand which used to be a Fleetwood product. It's tough to tell the players today, but there are some quality rigs being manufactured with some terrific new options.
Their show pricing was excellent as near as we could tell. We went into a Tiffin Allegro Bus that lists for almost $400,000 and was available for $312,000. We still think that they are overpriced considering that you can buy a decent house on a nice property for that same money. It will be fun at some point down the road when the time comes for us to make the switch. Unless, of course, we win the lottery in the meantime which could change our thinking entirely. We spent a couple hours at the show and it was totally free which made the trip worthwhile.
It is dreary and raining outside this morning. We've had over .10" of rain so far today and it is still early. We do need the rain so there's no complaining...
We were primarily interested in getting some idea about travel trailers for future consideration. We have some ideas as to what we would want, but we had no clue about prices and options. It was a very interesting and fun trip as we discovered a couple trailers that would be perfect for weekending and possible seasonal use. Our two favorites were this 29' Heartland Prowler:
which was selling at the show for $24,000, and this 30' Winnebago:
which was selling at the show for $28,000. The only thing we didn't like about the Prowler was the ridged aluminum siding where we would prefer the smooth sides of fiberglass.Of course, we were only looking at possibilities, so we don't know about detailed options at this point.
The one brand that they carry but was not present at this show was the Holiday Rambler line that we have always liked. Since the economic downturn, many brands, including Holiday Rambler, have been absorbed and merged with other brands. Heartland - makers of the Montana fifth wheel - also sell the Prowler brand which used to be a Fleetwood product. It's tough to tell the players today, but there are some quality rigs being manufactured with some terrific new options.
Their show pricing was excellent as near as we could tell. We went into a Tiffin Allegro Bus that lists for almost $400,000 and was available for $312,000. We still think that they are overpriced considering that you can buy a decent house on a nice property for that same money. It will be fun at some point down the road when the time comes for us to make the switch. Unless, of course, we win the lottery in the meantime which could change our thinking entirely. We spent a couple hours at the show and it was totally free which made the trip worthwhile.
It is dreary and raining outside this morning. We've had over .10" of rain so far today and it is still early. We do need the rain so there's no complaining...
Friday, January 25, 2013
Crafting
When the cool, damp weather arrives, it is easy to concentrate on crafts that we've been ignoring over the past several years. Actually, it isn't "ignoring" as much as finding the time to pay attention to those projects that have been labeled "in progress" for a long time. For Josie, it is working on unfinished afghans, and starting a new one. For me, it is a cross stitch that I started several years ago and will finally complete, hopefully, while we are still here. We both had forgotten how relaxing and fun it was to work on these projects. The weather is making it an easy choice for the next several days.
Today, however, we will venture out to the RV show that is being held at the University of Phoenix Stadium. That is, for those who don't know or have forgotten, the new Stadium in Glendale with the retractable roof. Today the top will be closed for sure during the rain. The show is not a huge one as La Mesa RV is putting on the whole show. They are one of, if not the largest, RV dealers in the Phoenix area so they will easily fill the stadium with product. It is free, so it sounds like a good chance to see some of the new rigs that are available and the new features that are offered in today's coaches.
The rest of the day will most likely be spent on our craft projects which make our time here a nice change of pace...
Today, however, we will venture out to the RV show that is being held at the University of Phoenix Stadium. That is, for those who don't know or have forgotten, the new Stadium in Glendale with the retractable roof. Today the top will be closed for sure during the rain. The show is not a huge one as La Mesa RV is putting on the whole show. They are one of, if not the largest, RV dealers in the Phoenix area so they will easily fill the stadium with product. It is free, so it sounds like a good chance to see some of the new rigs that are available and the new features that are offered in today's coaches.
The rest of the day will most likely be spent on our craft projects which make our time here a nice change of pace...
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Record Temps
Following a week of frigid weather where the lows went down to the low to mid 20's for a few nights, we are now blessed with a couple days of record highs in the low 80's. Go figure. It sure does seem like the weather is changing almost everywhere and it's beginning to get a little scary. There are definitely more extremes in the weather in all parts of the country. Now, we are looking at a few days - at least - of showers. We need the rain, but we sure like sunny and 80 more.
We made some progress yesterday with reorganizing the fifth wheel - again. This time, we have identified many items that we will take to the storage unit instead of hauling them around with us. That will free up some weight and also eliminate some of the clutter that has a tendency to build when we stay at one location for a long period. It is a satisfying feeling knowing that we finally have all or possessions in one location now.
The next step is to finish the dreaded shredding and clean out the shed we have at our site once and for all. I would like to save that chore for the days that Josie works in February, so I have from now until then to think about it. We'll settle in and watch the rain for the next couple days and maybe venture out to someplace - indoors...
We made some progress yesterday with reorganizing the fifth wheel - again. This time, we have identified many items that we will take to the storage unit instead of hauling them around with us. That will free up some weight and also eliminate some of the clutter that has a tendency to build when we stay at one location for a long period. It is a satisfying feeling knowing that we finally have all or possessions in one location now.
The next step is to finish the dreaded shredding and clean out the shed we have at our site once and for all. I would like to save that chore for the days that Josie works in February, so I have from now until then to think about it. We'll settle in and watch the rain for the next couple days and maybe venture out to someplace - indoors...
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Out and About
We did something a little different yesterday. We have been talking about our "life after full-timing" and one of the goals is to buy a small trailer to use for weekend travel, or for possible seasonal travel. We will be selling our fifth wheel and truck combination, our Jeep will be replaced with another, larger SUV, and we will make some kind of small trailer purchase. There will always be an RV in our life in some way as we enjoy that lifestyle. The costs will be much lower with a small trailer and SUV, but our housing costs will obviously increase in some way. There is a lot to be worked out, but the picture is becoming more clear over time.
Our experiences over the years with trailers have been highlighted with the quality coaches of Jayco and Holiday Rambler. There is a Jayco dealer not too far from us so we decided to visit there to get an idea what is available in today's market. It was fun looking at various floor plans and checking out options and prices. We feel that there will definitely be a trailer out there for us when the time comes. We picked up the literature and as we were leaving, the salesman told us about a campground that was just down the street from them that we had never heard about. Of course, we are always interested to check out campgrounds, so we went down the road about a half mile and sure enough, the Deserts Edge Campground was there:
We weren't crazy about all the Purple in the campground, but it was otherwise a decent place for being within the city limits of Phoenix. Here are a couple more shots of the entry and the campground:
We talked with the folks in the office and got all the info for seasonal rates and even short term camping rates. It would be an option for winter stays, but the prices were high for what we thought they should be. It is convenient to the city but not in one of the newer, or nicer areas. It is actually close to the Deer Valley Airport and I-17, but we didn't care for the surrounding area that much. It was still a surprise to learn about this place and the afternoon was pleasant just exploring these options.
We found out that there is an RV show this coming weekend at the football stadium so are we are planning to go there to see other trailers. It never hurts to plan ahead...
Our experiences over the years with trailers have been highlighted with the quality coaches of Jayco and Holiday Rambler. There is a Jayco dealer not too far from us so we decided to visit there to get an idea what is available in today's market. It was fun looking at various floor plans and checking out options and prices. We feel that there will definitely be a trailer out there for us when the time comes. We picked up the literature and as we were leaving, the salesman told us about a campground that was just down the street from them that we had never heard about. Of course, we are always interested to check out campgrounds, so we went down the road about a half mile and sure enough, the Deserts Edge Campground was there:
We weren't crazy about all the Purple in the campground, but it was otherwise a decent place for being within the city limits of Phoenix. Here are a couple more shots of the entry and the campground:
We talked with the folks in the office and got all the info for seasonal rates and even short term camping rates. It would be an option for winter stays, but the prices were high for what we thought they should be. It is convenient to the city but not in one of the newer, or nicer areas. It is actually close to the Deer Valley Airport and I-17, but we didn't care for the surrounding area that much. It was still a surprise to learn about this place and the afternoon was pleasant just exploring these options.
We found out that there is an RV show this coming weekend at the football stadium so are we are planning to go there to see other trailers. It never hurts to plan ahead...
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
MLK Day and Inauguration
With MLK Day and the Inauguration of a black president on the same day, they have certainly reached the "Promised Land". The blacks have come a long way from the civil rights struggles of the 50's and 60's, and yesterday was their day. It especially bothers me now to hear some blacks plead racism or to suggest that they have been mistreated as a result of racial prejudice. A two term black president should eliminate any of those thoughts.
It was difficult, as expected, to find anything on TV except Inauguration related programs - unless, of course, you turned to the movie channels which is another good reason to subscribe to them. When all else fails, turn on an old Western or romance flick. That is pretty much what we did yesterday except for a trip to Joann's to get some yarn for Josie's project. It was a pretty day - the warmest so far this year - at 81 degrees. We both made some good progress on our craft projects.
There are still some unfinished projects that need attention before we start working at Spring Training. The main one is the shredding that still needs to be done and I have been pushing that off. There are several boxes remaining so I will tackle that project very soon. In the meantime, we are enjoying our non-working time and the chance to fully relax from our work schedules. We have also come to realize that we will always work or volunteer at something as it can be boring - and not healthy - to sit around and do nothing every day. That gives us an itch to hit the road again for another new adventure...
It was difficult, as expected, to find anything on TV except Inauguration related programs - unless, of course, you turned to the movie channels which is another good reason to subscribe to them. When all else fails, turn on an old Western or romance flick. That is pretty much what we did yesterday except for a trip to Joann's to get some yarn for Josie's project. It was a pretty day - the warmest so far this year - at 81 degrees. We both made some good progress on our craft projects.
There are still some unfinished projects that need attention before we start working at Spring Training. The main one is the shredding that still needs to be done and I have been pushing that off. There are several boxes remaining so I will tackle that project very soon. In the meantime, we are enjoying our non-working time and the chance to fully relax from our work schedules. We have also come to realize that we will always work or volunteer at something as it can be boring - and not healthy - to sit around and do nothing every day. That gives us an itch to hit the road again for another new adventure...
Monday, January 21, 2013
Good News from Illinois
The big news from yesterday was hearing the results from Austin's visit to the Western Michigan University Campus in Kalamazoo, MI over the weekend. We haven't gotten the full report yet, but the net of the visit was that Austin was given an offer for a full 5 year scholarship. He verbally committed to the offer and will sign the offer on college recruit signing day which is a couple weeks away. His patience paid off and based on what I see of their football roster, he should get an opportunity to play this year as almost all of the running backs are seniors from last years team and will be graduating in June. It is a Division I school, and they have a tough schedule that includes Iowa, Northwestern and Michigan State in the upcoming season. We will get a full rundown of the trip today from Patty. We will all become Western Michigan fans from now on, and may get to see one of his games next Fall after we leave Wyoming in October.
Our hike never materialized yesterday as we got a late start to the day. We had a late breakfast and by the time we started to talk about the hike, we had begun other activities - Josie working on her afghan and I was working on a cross stitch. It looks like the hike will be next week - or sooner - but we definitely want to start early as it does heat up now during the day. We did get to our workout at the fitness center though, so we did get our exercise.
Today is MLK day so that means no mail or no banking for today, not that those are big events for us. All of our banking is done online and our mail only comes once a week anyway, so it is pretty much a normal day for us. It is probably that way for most folks, but enjoy the holiday anyway - and watching the Inauguration on TV - sure...
Our hike never materialized yesterday as we got a late start to the day. We had a late breakfast and by the time we started to talk about the hike, we had begun other activities - Josie working on her afghan and I was working on a cross stitch. It looks like the hike will be next week - or sooner - but we definitely want to start early as it does heat up now during the day. We did get to our workout at the fitness center though, so we did get our exercise.
Today is MLK day so that means no mail or no banking for today, not that those are big events for us. All of our banking is done online and our mail only comes once a week anyway, so it is pretty much a normal day for us. It is probably that way for most folks, but enjoy the holiday anyway - and watching the Inauguration on TV - sure...
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Planning a Hike
One of the activities that we enjoy is hiking. We have been to the White Tank Mountains before when we walked the Waterfall Trail many years ago. The plan is to select one of the many trails from the map that wouldn't be too long or too short for us. We like hikes in the 3 - 4 mile range, but almost all of the hikes shown on the map are 1 mile, or more than 5. Some look difficult as far as lots of climbing, and others look like a walk in the park. The idea is to get exercise, so I'm not sure that it matters. Assuming that we can agree on one, we will tackle it today.
We heard from Patty on her visit with Austin and her family to Western Michigan University. She said they were being treated like royalty and were having a grand time. They are with 9 other recruits and they are spending a lot of time with the coaching staff. It looks very good for Austin to receive an offer to come to that University on a football scholarship which is his first choice. We are anxious to hear from them when they return.
It's warming up nicely and it looks like there aren't even any clouds in the forecast for the next 7 days. Temps will be in the high 70's which makes it great for outdoor activities, so here we go...
We heard from Patty on her visit with Austin and her family to Western Michigan University. She said they were being treated like royalty and were having a grand time. They are with 9 other recruits and they are spending a lot of time with the coaching staff. It looks very good for Austin to receive an offer to come to that University on a football scholarship which is his first choice. We are anxious to hear from them when they return.
It's warming up nicely and it looks like there aren't even any clouds in the forecast for the next 7 days. Temps will be in the high 70's which makes it great for outdoor activities, so here we go...
Saturday, January 19, 2013
New Eyeglasses
Back in December, right after Christmas, I went to the Optometrist for an eye exam and to get a prescription for glasses. We then went to Costco where I selected and purchased a pair of glasses that they told me would take about 2 to 2 1/2 weeks to be ready for pickup. Yesterday was 3 weeks from the order date and I still hadn't received an email they promised to send when they arrived in the store. I called the store yesterday afternoon after having not heard any status and they told me they arrived on January 5! Thanks for letting me know they arrived. Anyway, we went to the store and picked them up in the afternoon. They couldn't explain why they neglected to let me know they were in and it was a good thing I called when I did.
These glasses have progressive lenses which mean they are almost like bifocals except they don't have the line separating the regular lens from the reading lens. It is going to take some time to get used to these but they replace the two pairs of glasses I've had to carry around.
We got back to our routine at the fitness center and we could tell that it's been several days since the last visit. It was a lot more tiring walking the 2 miles on the treadmill yesterday. We are also totally back on our diets since our short trip to Laughlin. We both did great trying to stay on them, but when you eat in restaurants it is especially tough to eat just the right things. The cleansing I had to do for my Colonoscopy helped me to stay even with my weight, and Josie only gained back a pound.
I haven't heard from Patty but they are suppose to be at Western Michigan University this weekend with Austin to tour the campus and meet with the coaches. They also had a visit during last week from a coach from the University of Dayton who is also interested in recruiting Austin. He is getting close to receiving the offers he deserves...
These glasses have progressive lenses which mean they are almost like bifocals except they don't have the line separating the regular lens from the reading lens. It is going to take some time to get used to these but they replace the two pairs of glasses I've had to carry around.
We got back to our routine at the fitness center and we could tell that it's been several days since the last visit. It was a lot more tiring walking the 2 miles on the treadmill yesterday. We are also totally back on our diets since our short trip to Laughlin. We both did great trying to stay on them, but when you eat in restaurants it is especially tough to eat just the right things. The cleansing I had to do for my Colonoscopy helped me to stay even with my weight, and Josie only gained back a pound.
I haven't heard from Patty but they are suppose to be at Western Michigan University this weekend with Austin to tour the campus and meet with the coaches. They also had a visit during last week from a coach from the University of Dayton who is also interested in recruiting Austin. He is getting close to receiving the offers he deserves...
Friday, January 18, 2013
Colonoscopy Done
In order to make sure we would arrive in Phoenix on time for my Colonoscopy, we left here shortly before 7 AM. The traffic still backs up on US 101 early in the AM so it still took us almost an hour to travel to the Clinic. My system was totally cleansed and I was ready. Check-in went smoothly, and I was in the room ready for the procedure 5 minutes before my 9 AM scheduled time. It was probably the smoothest Colonoscopy I've had as I was out of the room and waiting to be released at 9:15 AM. The Doctor came in and reviewed the procedure and indicated that everything looked fine, except for a Diverticulosis spot on the left side of the intestine that is of no concern at this point. He took biopsies of polyps and was certain that they would show no cancer and that I was good to go for another couple years. I will get the official results in about a week.
We left the Clinic and headed for the Village Inn in Surprise to get some breakfast. That was the first time since we arrived here that we ate at the Village which was always our favorite breakfast restaurant. It still is. We both had a terrific breakfast and the place still packs them in on a daily basis. We talked to one of the employees about the many closings of Village Inn's across the country and she indicated that this particular location was the number 2 Village Inn in their chain. Only one in Illinois does more business. Most of the one's that were closed down were a result of being too close in proximity to another Village Inn.
The rest of the day was spent just relaxing and recovering from my procedure. We have missed several days now of our routine at the fitness center, so we hope to back to that schedule today...
We left the Clinic and headed for the Village Inn in Surprise to get some breakfast. That was the first time since we arrived here that we ate at the Village which was always our favorite breakfast restaurant. It still is. We both had a terrific breakfast and the place still packs them in on a daily basis. We talked to one of the employees about the many closings of Village Inn's across the country and she indicated that this particular location was the number 2 Village Inn in their chain. Only one in Illinois does more business. Most of the one's that were closed down were a result of being too close in proximity to another Village Inn.
The rest of the day was spent just relaxing and recovering from my procedure. We have missed several days now of our routine at the fitness center, so we hope to back to that schedule today...
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Home From Laughlin
We got up early to have breakfast before leaving the hotel except that I could only have liquids - all day. The hotel runs specials and Josie had a great breakfast of eggs and all the fixins (toast, sausage, pancakes, bacon) for $1.99 while I had a glass of apple juice and a refill. We left the hotel with a very good opinion of the hotel and casino in general, and the room and restaurant in particular. We will definitely return to this hotel in the future.
It was still a bit cold and breezy as we left town and headed up the pass toward Kingman. We took a shot of our "finger" rock from this direction to show the difference from Monday's shot:
Now, tell me that doesn't look like a gross rock configuration.
The return trip on US 93 was very pretty and scenic and we made excellent time with only one stop. Well, two stops if you count the stop to get a shot of the town of Nothing, which now really is nothing as the inhabitants have moved out and created a mini ghost town:
It is amazing that anybody lived in that place as long as they did as the nearest town is Wikieup which is about 30 miles north, and that is a small town in itself.
We arrived home at 1 PM AZ time and I picked up our mail and mixed my "brew" for the cleansing process before my Colonoscopy this morning. It was not a lot of fun drinking the mixture and then heading to the john every 10 minutes or so last night until about 9 PM. After having just liquids yesterday, I am ready to get this over with and head to a restaurant for a big breakfast.
Warm weather is on the way and we will see 70's by the weekend. Yeah!!
It was still a bit cold and breezy as we left town and headed up the pass toward Kingman. We took a shot of our "finger" rock from this direction to show the difference from Monday's shot:
Now, tell me that doesn't look like a gross rock configuration.
The return trip on US 93 was very pretty and scenic and we made excellent time with only one stop. Well, two stops if you count the stop to get a shot of the town of Nothing, which now really is nothing as the inhabitants have moved out and created a mini ghost town:
It is amazing that anybody lived in that place as long as they did as the nearest town is Wikieup which is about 30 miles north, and that is a small town in itself.
We arrived home at 1 PM AZ time and I picked up our mail and mixed my "brew" for the cleansing process before my Colonoscopy this morning. It was not a lot of fun drinking the mixture and then heading to the john every 10 minutes or so last night until about 9 PM. After having just liquids yesterday, I am ready to get this over with and head to a restaurant for a big breakfast.
Warm weather is on the way and we will see 70's by the weekend. Yeah!!
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Casino Tour
Our goal for the day yesterday was to take the River Walk all the way to The Riverside Hotel at the north end of town. The River Walk runs along the Colorado River and connects all of the Casinos from the Golden Nugget North to the Riverside Hotel and Casino - see map below. It is a great way to visit all of the Casinos and to get a scenic walk and some exercise at the same time.
We started out after breakfast at the Pioneer next door:
We have had very good success at this casino just about every visit we've made. Yesterday wasn't one of them. We made a small donation and continued our walk north.
The next stop was the Colorado Belle:
and again, we've had some success at this casino and it was our favorite for quite a while several years ago. They've made many changes to the hotel and especially to the casino so that it is really one of our least favorite to visit. The hotel was a special place for us during that time when we enjoyed 2 years of spectacular 4th of July fireworks and festivities at the hotel. It is a far cry from those days. We made a modest contribution there and moved on to the next stop.
The Edgewater:
is actually affiliated with the Colorado Belle and has never been a consideration for us in our visits to the area. We only stopped there briefly and lost just a few dollars on those machines and moved on to the Aquarius:
This is the hotel and casino that became our favorite over the last few years that we visited Laughlin. The rooms are excellent, the food is reasonably priced and very good, the location is terrific and the casino has been just above average for us as far as producing winnings. By this time, we were getting low on our stake that was left over from the jackpots the day before and we needed some luck to continue on to the Riverside. The slot-Gods were with us as we each won some modest jackpots to carry us on to the Riverside:
This oldest and largest of the strip hotels and casinos is where we stayed in the RV park in October. We had excellent success on those slot machines and we were excited to continue that streak yesterday. It was not in the cards. We lost all but a few dollars of our surplus stake and were disappointed in the machines that produced enough winnings in October to pay for our stay at that time. That's the way it goes in these casinos - all casinos, actually. One day you win, the next day you lose. We decided to head back to our home hotel, the Golden Nugget, but with a stop at the Aquarius to try one more time to get back on the winning track.
That turned out to be the right move as Josie got hot, right away, and won a couple jackpots that doubled our original stake and gave us enough to completely cover the trip including gas, hotel and meals. I had won enough on Monday to cover our original stake for the trip. If it only worked out like this on every trip, we would plan one every week.
The walk was done with very strong winds and cold temperatures the whole day. I captured this shot of a wayward tourist on the River Walk that is a good example of how cold it actually was:
We returned to the Golden Nugget, had some dinner and played some final slots before heading to our room for the night. It was a wonderful, and rewarding birthday trip and couldn't have been more enjoyable. Our task for today is to get home early enough to begin my medications and "cleansing" process so I will be ready for my Colonoscopy tomorrow morning.
We also heard from the ARAMARK folks and we are good to go for our jobs at the stadium. We selected a date of February 5 to begin our training for the Spring Training season in Surprise Stadium with a 3 hour class beginning at 4 PM on that day. The other options were all after Josie begins her Valentine's Day stint at the flower shop so it should work out fine. We each got the position that we wanted so we are ready to go...
We started out after breakfast at the Pioneer next door:
We have had very good success at this casino just about every visit we've made. Yesterday wasn't one of them. We made a small donation and continued our walk north.
The next stop was the Colorado Belle:
and again, we've had some success at this casino and it was our favorite for quite a while several years ago. They've made many changes to the hotel and especially to the casino so that it is really one of our least favorite to visit. The hotel was a special place for us during that time when we enjoyed 2 years of spectacular 4th of July fireworks and festivities at the hotel. It is a far cry from those days. We made a modest contribution there and moved on to the next stop.
The Edgewater:
is actually affiliated with the Colorado Belle and has never been a consideration for us in our visits to the area. We only stopped there briefly and lost just a few dollars on those machines and moved on to the Aquarius:
This is the hotel and casino that became our favorite over the last few years that we visited Laughlin. The rooms are excellent, the food is reasonably priced and very good, the location is terrific and the casino has been just above average for us as far as producing winnings. By this time, we were getting low on our stake that was left over from the jackpots the day before and we needed some luck to continue on to the Riverside. The slot-Gods were with us as we each won some modest jackpots to carry us on to the Riverside:
This oldest and largest of the strip hotels and casinos is where we stayed in the RV park in October. We had excellent success on those slot machines and we were excited to continue that streak yesterday. It was not in the cards. We lost all but a few dollars of our surplus stake and were disappointed in the machines that produced enough winnings in October to pay for our stay at that time. That's the way it goes in these casinos - all casinos, actually. One day you win, the next day you lose. We decided to head back to our home hotel, the Golden Nugget, but with a stop at the Aquarius to try one more time to get back on the winning track.
That turned out to be the right move as Josie got hot, right away, and won a couple jackpots that doubled our original stake and gave us enough to completely cover the trip including gas, hotel and meals. I had won enough on Monday to cover our original stake for the trip. If it only worked out like this on every trip, we would plan one every week.
The walk was done with very strong winds and cold temperatures the whole day. I captured this shot of a wayward tourist on the River Walk that is a good example of how cold it actually was:
We returned to the Golden Nugget, had some dinner and played some final slots before heading to our room for the night. It was a wonderful, and rewarding birthday trip and couldn't have been more enjoyable. Our task for today is to get home early enough to begin my medications and "cleansing" process so I will be ready for my Colonoscopy tomorrow morning.
We also heard from the ARAMARK folks and we are good to go for our jobs at the stadium. We selected a date of February 5 to begin our training for the Spring Training season in Surprise Stadium with a 3 hour class beginning at 4 PM on that day. The other options were all after Josie begins her Valentine's Day stint at the flower shop so it should work out fine. We each got the position that we wanted so we are ready to go...
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Great Day in Laughlin
We left pretty close to schedule yesterday - 10:15 AM - and arrived in Laughlin at 2:15 PM (AZ time). With the one hour adjustment for Pacific Time it was 1:15. We stopped several times along the way - for potty breaks and a stop at Safeway in Kingman to pick up some coffee for our room. The trip was kind of nostalgic since it has been about 4 years since we came this way on route 93 through Wickenburg to Laughlin. There have been many changes along the way, but most were in Kingman where we always got off to buy a Dairy Queen at the Stockton Ave exit and discovered the whole shopping center has been closed down for remodeling. Across the street from that is where the Safeway is located and, fortunately, it was still there.
There was light snow on the ground at the outskirts of Kingman and the temperature was 29 as we entered town. There is a steep pass that goes from Kingman into Bullhead City on the Colorado River and our favorite "finger" rock brought back more memories:
When we reached the bottom of this pass we turned into Laughlin over the Colorado River and arrived at our Hotel:
and ranks right at the top for room values in Laughlin. For $34 per night, you can hardly beat this. It has a single cup Keurig coffee maker in the room and that's why we stopped at Safeway to get a small can of Decaf coffee to use with our filter that we brought from home. We are on the fourth floor overlooking the garden area. As soon as you walk into the casino, you walk through this very nice Atrium:
We hit the slots and it was all fun from there. I immediately hit a couple medium sized jackpots that gave us the extra cash to cover the expenses for the trip. We played for a couple hours and went to dinner at the hotel restaurant - Harlow's - and had a terrific T-bone steak dinner that totaled $15 for the two of us. These are the kind of deals that used to be common in Vegas, but are no longer. We played a little more following dinner and then went to the Pioneer Casino next door for a couple hours of play. We did fine there and left with just about what we started with in that Casino.
Today is our only full day here so we expect to walk the Riverwalk to the other hotel/casinos and play a little at each of those along the way. It is a great way to spend a birthday - actually, a great way to spend any time.
One note on Austin's trip to Western Michigan University - it was postponed to next weekend. I didn't receive notice of the schedule change until talking to Patty yesterday. One of the coaches made a trip to Austin's school to talk with him and explain the schedule change and to assure him was at the top of their list and were looking forward to his visit next weekend. In the meantime, he has another University - Drake - coming to visit him at home on Tuesday so it's looking good for Austin to be getting some offers soon. We are so happy for him...
There was light snow on the ground at the outskirts of Kingman and the temperature was 29 as we entered town. There is a steep pass that goes from Kingman into Bullhead City on the Colorado River and our favorite "finger" rock brought back more memories:
When we reached the bottom of this pass we turned into Laughlin over the Colorado River and arrived at our Hotel:
Because we were early and check-in wasn't until 4 PM, we had to wait for our room to be ready which was about a half hour after we arrived. The room is wonderful:
and ranks right at the top for room values in Laughlin. For $34 per night, you can hardly beat this. It has a single cup Keurig coffee maker in the room and that's why we stopped at Safeway to get a small can of Decaf coffee to use with our filter that we brought from home. We are on the fourth floor overlooking the garden area. As soon as you walk into the casino, you walk through this very nice Atrium:
We hit the slots and it was all fun from there. I immediately hit a couple medium sized jackpots that gave us the extra cash to cover the expenses for the trip. We played for a couple hours and went to dinner at the hotel restaurant - Harlow's - and had a terrific T-bone steak dinner that totaled $15 for the two of us. These are the kind of deals that used to be common in Vegas, but are no longer. We played a little more following dinner and then went to the Pioneer Casino next door for a couple hours of play. We did fine there and left with just about what we started with in that Casino.
Today is our only full day here so we expect to walk the Riverwalk to the other hotel/casinos and play a little at each of those along the way. It is a great way to spend a birthday - actually, a great way to spend any time.
One note on Austin's trip to Western Michigan University - it was postponed to next weekend. I didn't receive notice of the schedule change until talking to Patty yesterday. One of the coaches made a trip to Austin's school to talk with him and explain the schedule change and to assure him was at the top of their list and were looking forward to his visit next weekend. In the meantime, he has another University - Drake - coming to visit him at home on Tuesday so it's looking good for Austin to be getting some offers soon. We are so happy for him...
Monday, January 14, 2013
Cold is the Story
The big story here is the frigid temperatures. We had a low of 23 yesterday and even though it wasn't a record for the area, it was for us. We can remember a few days when the temps would go into the 20's but not so low or for so long. It has been so cold that we went through a whole 9 gallon bottle of propane in a week. That's a lot of propane use for one week when they usually last for several weeks or months. We normally use our fireplace more which is electric, but we are paying for the electric on this site and that is more expensive than the propane. If electric was included, the fireplace would be on all the time. That's one reason for the serious consideration for Lake Pleasant for next year where the electric is included.
Most of the day was spent getting ready for our short trip to Laughlin today. Josie got a haircut and did some laundry. I didn't do much other than try to organize what we are taking on the trip. My Colonoscopy is on Thursday morning but I have to begin taking laxatives and discontinuing other foods on Wednesday. We need to just make sure that the timing for this is such that the laxatives don't begin working before our arrival home on Wednesday.
We are looking forward to our Laughlin trip today. The Golden Nugget will be a new experience for us and we hope that the hotel reviews are accurate. This will be the fourth different hotel we've stayed in in our travels to Laughlin. So far, they have all been terrific and we hope our luck is on the good side while there. It would be nice if this trip is as successful as our week that we spent here in October when, essentially, we won enough to cover the expenses for the week. We know that doesn't happen all the time, but you have to think positive. Our planned departure this morning is at 10 AM and we expect to arrive around 2 PM for check in at the hotel - see you from the Golden Nugget tomorrow...
Most of the day was spent getting ready for our short trip to Laughlin today. Josie got a haircut and did some laundry. I didn't do much other than try to organize what we are taking on the trip. My Colonoscopy is on Thursday morning but I have to begin taking laxatives and discontinuing other foods on Wednesday. We need to just make sure that the timing for this is such that the laxatives don't begin working before our arrival home on Wednesday.
We are looking forward to our Laughlin trip today. The Golden Nugget will be a new experience for us and we hope that the hotel reviews are accurate. This will be the fourth different hotel we've stayed in in our travels to Laughlin. So far, they have all been terrific and we hope our luck is on the good side while there. It would be nice if this trip is as successful as our week that we spent here in October when, essentially, we won enough to cover the expenses for the week. We know that doesn't happen all the time, but you have to think positive. Our planned departure this morning is at 10 AM and we expect to arrive around 2 PM for check in at the hotel - see you from the Golden Nugget tomorrow...
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Laughlin Trip Planned
We had been talking about doing something special for my 70th birthday on Monday so we planned a short trip to Laughlin. Our original plan was to go tonight and stay until Thursday, but that was a long stay, so we shortened it to Monday through Wednesday, returning Thursday. Reservations were made and we were set for those days until I discovered that Thursday at 8 AM I am scheduled for my Colonoscopy. Oh well, Monday through Tuesday and returning Wednesday is still a nice present. The reservations are made at a different hotel for us - the Golden Nugget - where we have never stayed in all the trips we've taken to Laughlin. It will be nice to try a different place and the deals at almost all of the hotels are too good to turn down. It is a great time to go to Laughlin. We are looking forward to that trip.
The weather has completely turned to winter in Alaska. Our high was only 51 yesterday with a low of 28 and it is 23 outside as I write this entry. What's the deal? There are so many plants and trees that will be damaged or lost through this cold spell. While the east coast is basking in record high temperatures, we seem to be having enough winter for everybody. Their turn is coming as the cold weather is moving east, and by the end of the week we will be in almost tropical temps as the east gets frozen over.
I picked up my cholesterol medication yesterday and I really hesitate to start taking it. My diet will eventually produce normal cholesterol levels as it did previously. The Doctor prescribed Crestor which, of course, is a named brand, and it cost (my copay) $45 to fill. There are no generics for that brand. I went online to Crestor and found a savings card that maximizes my out of pocket cost at $18 for this medication. I took the card and my receipt back to the Pharmacy and got $27 back on the prescription. The card is good for a year, but I don't expect to be on the medication that long. Another example of runaway medical costs.
Our only outdoor activity for today is to go to Sam's Club to pick up my Vitamin D supplement and a few items to take on our trip. We will probably also take in our exercise hour at the fitness center and that will probably do it for today.
We are thinking about, and praying, that Austin is having a successful trip to Western Michigan University and are excited for him...
The weather has completely turned to winter in Alaska. Our high was only 51 yesterday with a low of 28 and it is 23 outside as I write this entry. What's the deal? There are so many plants and trees that will be damaged or lost through this cold spell. While the east coast is basking in record high temperatures, we seem to be having enough winter for everybody. Their turn is coming as the cold weather is moving east, and by the end of the week we will be in almost tropical temps as the east gets frozen over.
I picked up my cholesterol medication yesterday and I really hesitate to start taking it. My diet will eventually produce normal cholesterol levels as it did previously. The Doctor prescribed Crestor which, of course, is a named brand, and it cost (my copay) $45 to fill. There are no generics for that brand. I went online to Crestor and found a savings card that maximizes my out of pocket cost at $18 for this medication. I took the card and my receipt back to the Pharmacy and got $27 back on the prescription. The card is good for a year, but I don't expect to be on the medication that long. Another example of runaway medical costs.
Our only outdoor activity for today is to go to Sam's Club to pick up my Vitamin D supplement and a few items to take on our trip. We will probably also take in our exercise hour at the fitness center and that will probably do it for today.
We are thinking about, and praying, that Austin is having a successful trip to Western Michigan University and are excited for him...
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Yep, Forecast Right
Everything we've been listening to about the frigid cold front has happened. It is 28 outside this morning and it may still go lower before it begins to heat up for the day. We are expecting even colder temps tonight and tomorrow morning so we will settle in for the next few days and not do much outside. In fact, we stayed home all of yesterday and along with some reading and TV, we had a peaceful day in the rig.
I received notice from my doctor's office regarding results of my blood work. My cholesterol was elevated and I was lacking vitamin D in the results. I was not surprised at all by the results since they are normal readings for someone just beginning the Atkins Diet. With the change to a heavy fat content in my food, cholesterol is expected to rise until my body adjusts to the new fat burning mode. My doctor prescribed some cholesterol medication which I will take anyway, and also suggested I pick up a Vitamin B supplement pill. Other than that, my levels are normal. That's good news for my upcoming 70th anniversary of life on Monday.
The next few days will be quiet ones as we ride out the cold spell. It will be Tuesday before any warmer temps arrive so we are preparing ourselves for less outside activity until then. We left the water dripping from the faucet last night so that the hose didn't freeze, and that appears to have been a good strategy as we had normal water flow this morning. I think it has to be below freezing for more hours anyway before any of those side effects happen. I hope everybody stays warm, wherever they are...
I received notice from my doctor's office regarding results of my blood work. My cholesterol was elevated and I was lacking vitamin D in the results. I was not surprised at all by the results since they are normal readings for someone just beginning the Atkins Diet. With the change to a heavy fat content in my food, cholesterol is expected to rise until my body adjusts to the new fat burning mode. My doctor prescribed some cholesterol medication which I will take anyway, and also suggested I pick up a Vitamin B supplement pill. Other than that, my levels are normal. That's good news for my upcoming 70th anniversary of life on Monday.
The next few days will be quiet ones as we ride out the cold spell. It will be Tuesday before any warmer temps arrive so we are preparing ourselves for less outside activity until then. We left the water dripping from the faucet last night so that the hose didn't freeze, and that appears to have been a good strategy as we had normal water flow this morning. I think it has to be below freezing for more hours anyway before any of those side effects happen. I hope everybody stays warm, wherever they are...
Friday, January 11, 2013
Real Winter Coming
There is a very cold front expected to come through AZ over the next several days. In fact, it hasn't been this cold since 1988 according to the AZ weather on TV. The lows are expected to be in the 20's each of the next 3 mornings and winds are also expected to be higher than normal during that period. Our location will be among the lowest temps in the Phoenix area so we are bracing for the effects. We already brought our plant inside last night anticipating the cold to start. It has only gone down to 35 this morning so the main thrust of this cold front hasn't quite hit yet. Highs are expected to be in the high 50's which is very rare for this area in the winter. There isn't much else we need to do except maybe keep our water on drip during the night at the faucet to prevent the hose from freezing. At any rate, it will not be anything like the cold spell we had in Campbellsville Kentucky 2 years ago when it didn't go above 25 for about a week in December. That was the coldest weather we have had in 4 years of traveling. Glad to be away from that.
Along with our normal schedule at the fitness center, we have decided to add 1 hike per week. We are trying to make it a regular activity, so we selected the same day each week to do the hike - Sundays. Our plan was to start this Sunday but if the temps are in the 30's or low 40's, we may wait until next week to start.
Josie heard about her official start date for the Valentine's Day rush at the flower shop. She will work from February 9 to February 14, starting at 8 AM each of those days. That will be a short schedule but I may also drive on a couple days as we get close to Valentine's Day.
Today is the day that Austin leaves for Western Michigan for his important meetings with the coaching staff. We are hoping that Austin and the family enjoy their stay and have a safe trip...
Along with our normal schedule at the fitness center, we have decided to add 1 hike per week. We are trying to make it a regular activity, so we selected the same day each week to do the hike - Sundays. Our plan was to start this Sunday but if the temps are in the 30's or low 40's, we may wait until next week to start.
Josie heard about her official start date for the Valentine's Day rush at the flower shop. She will work from February 9 to February 14, starting at 8 AM each of those days. That will be a short schedule but I may also drive on a couple days as we get close to Valentine's Day.
Today is the day that Austin leaves for Western Michigan for his important meetings with the coaching staff. We are hoping that Austin and the family enjoy their stay and have a safe trip...
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Lab Work and Exercise
It was mentioned yesterday that the Lab - Sonora Quest Labs - was part of the doctor's office. The company is huge with locations all over the area, but this location is not listed as part of the network of lab centers which made it impossible to check the lab hours. The online info regarding the other centers indicated they opened at 7 AM so I assumed the same hours existed for this lab in the doctor's office. Wrong. I got to the lab at 7:15 and was the first person to arrive at the building. I sat in the car until 7:50 when somebody finally showed up to open the office. By 8 AM there were 10 people in the lobby. I was in the lab, gave my blood samples and was out the door by 8:10. Obviously, the hours for the lab are the same as the doctor's office but my early arrival did allow me to go first and get out in short order. Results will be known in about a week.
We went to the fitness center and did our exercises when I got home. Josie wanted to do some work on her afghans but needed to get some yarn, so she went out to look for yarn while I stayed home to do things around the rig. That about shot the day.
We heard from Patty that Austin was invited to go to Western Michigan University for the weekend so their family will be leaving Friday for this important meeting. The goal is to leave the University with an offer in hand for Austin. This is the University that was after him before their coaching staff was replaced. It appears that he was still high on their list once the new staff was hired and in place. There have been many other, smaller colleges that have pursued Austin, but this is the one that has excited him more than the others We pray that all goes well on this trip. It is an exciting time for him and he deserves the fruit from all of his hard work...
We went to the fitness center and did our exercises when I got home. Josie wanted to do some work on her afghans but needed to get some yarn, so she went out to look for yarn while I stayed home to do things around the rig. That about shot the day.
We heard from Patty that Austin was invited to go to Western Michigan University for the weekend so their family will be leaving Friday for this important meeting. The goal is to leave the University with an offer in hand for Austin. This is the University that was after him before their coaching staff was replaced. It appears that he was still high on their list once the new staff was hired and in place. There have been many other, smaller colleges that have pursued Austin, but this is the one that has excited him more than the others We pray that all goes well on this trip. It is an exciting time for him and he deserves the fruit from all of his hard work...
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Better Doctor Outcome
It was a completely opposite result yesterday from last week's experience at the Doctor office. They were ready for me when I arrived at 10:30 to do the paperwork and begin the physical exam process. Actually, it has been over 3 years since my last visit and that was also my last physical exam. There was no problem with the insurance, and they just asked to make a copy of the card. Everything appears to be normal and I have an appointment this AM for lab work which will tell us if everything is a OK from that standpoint. The biggest change that I saw was that the lab work is now done in the same office, and if I hadn't had any breakfast yesterday, I would have saved the trip today.
The rest of the day was mostly spent trying to organize some boxes in the storage shed that we use here. Josie did some sorting of yarn and I saw that I had lots of shredding to do yet before we leave this area. We will probably make another trip to our storage unit to unload some more goodies from the fifth wheel that we won't be using during the summer.
We're doing a lot more grilling with our diets now, and are enjoying the meals so far. Also, neither one of us is missing any of the "sweet" stuff that helped put on this excess weight. It's early yet in the process, but we are confident that we will succeed with the plans...
The rest of the day was mostly spent trying to organize some boxes in the storage shed that we use here. Josie did some sorting of yarn and I saw that I had lots of shredding to do yet before we leave this area. We will probably make another trip to our storage unit to unload some more goodies from the fifth wheel that we won't be using during the summer.
We're doing a lot more grilling with our diets now, and are enjoying the meals so far. Also, neither one of us is missing any of the "sweet" stuff that helped put on this excess weight. It's early yet in the process, but we are confident that we will succeed with the plans...
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Interview Plus Doctor
The first of the appointments for the day yesterday was the interview with the GM at the Surprise Stadium for Spring Training opportunities. It went very well and, basically, he described the different positions that were available. First of all, ARAMARK is only responsible for the concessions at the stadiums, and not operations. There are multiple concessions at the stadium and there are openings for each of the positions: Cooking, Runners, Cashier/Front Counter, Warehouse, Stand Lead and Concessions Lead. Following those explanations and a discussion on each, we agreed to pursue Cashiering/Front Counter for Josie, and a Stand Lead for me. I'll describe more about each of those positions after we are hired. There are many workers that return each year, so he was only looking for a few people for each of the positions. He gave us a tentative go on our selections, pending the background check. After it is confirmed that we haven't held up any banks or committed any crimes, we will get a formal offer by Friday or Monday. It is a marathon month of working about 40 hours a week but it will be a good experience for us. We would be attending a couple classes in February to prepare for the job, and those dates will be given to us once we are on board.
The second appointment was my visit to my Gastroenterologist to schedule a Colonoscopy that I was suppose to have last January while we were here but did not have the time. There was no problem or questions whatsoever about my insurance coverage which was such a sticking point at my Family Doctor's office. They have taken this insurance in the past, so I didn't expect any problem. The Colonoscopy is scheduled for 8 AM on Thursday, the 17th of January. It so happens that the Doctor is located on the east side of Phoenix and is about 45 minutes from here. I have been using him since we moved to AZ in 2000, and he has performed about 4 or 5 Colonoscopies on me since that time, so why change to a closer Doctor and start over again.
Speaking of the Family Doctor, I have a return visit scheduled with him this morning at 10:45. If there is any question - again - about the insurance, I will say goodbye to him and find another Doctor. He has been our Doctor for many years so we hate to give up on him and start over with another, but we may not have a choice. There should not be any problem based on the conversations following last week's rejection. We'll keep our finger's crossed...
The second appointment was my visit to my Gastroenterologist to schedule a Colonoscopy that I was suppose to have last January while we were here but did not have the time. There was no problem or questions whatsoever about my insurance coverage which was such a sticking point at my Family Doctor's office. They have taken this insurance in the past, so I didn't expect any problem. The Colonoscopy is scheduled for 8 AM on Thursday, the 17th of January. It so happens that the Doctor is located on the east side of Phoenix and is about 45 minutes from here. I have been using him since we moved to AZ in 2000, and he has performed about 4 or 5 Colonoscopies on me since that time, so why change to a closer Doctor and start over again.
Speaking of the Family Doctor, I have a return visit scheduled with him this morning at 10:45. If there is any question - again - about the insurance, I will say goodbye to him and find another Doctor. He has been our Doctor for many years so we hate to give up on him and start over with another, but we may not have a choice. There should not be any problem based on the conversations following last week's rejection. We'll keep our finger's crossed...
Monday, January 7, 2013
Stage One Complete
There were some moments yesterday when I felt like eating something but I stuck it out and completed the two day liquid only diet. I had to remain pretty close to a john all day, but that's the nature of this step. Supposedly, my body is cleansed of impurities. I now begin the low carb diet and I have a good start to the weight loss goal with over 8 lbs lost since early last week. Of course, most of that is liquid waste but it all counts. Josie is also on the right path as she has lost several pounds already on her Sonoma diet plan.
Our appointments continue today with an interview at the stadium this morning, followed by an appointment this afternoon with my doctor to schedule a Colonoscopy. My follow up appointment at my regular doctor is tomorrow. Hopefully, they will accept the insurance this time after the conversations with the insurance company.
Time is marching on and even though we don't leave here until April, much of the time will be taken with work. We expect Josie to start again for the Valentine's Day rush on about the 1st of February. At the end of February, we hopefully begin the month long Spring Training schedule. There will only be a few days following that schedule that we need to leave Happy Trails and head to WA. It's been a great winter so far, even though we wish it would warm up a bit...
Our appointments continue today with an interview at the stadium this morning, followed by an appointment this afternoon with my doctor to schedule a Colonoscopy. My follow up appointment at my regular doctor is tomorrow. Hopefully, they will accept the insurance this time after the conversations with the insurance company.
Time is marching on and even though we don't leave here until April, much of the time will be taken with work. We expect Josie to start again for the Valentine's Day rush on about the 1st of February. At the end of February, we hopefully begin the month long Spring Training schedule. There will only be a few days following that schedule that we need to leave Happy Trails and head to WA. It's been a great winter so far, even though we wish it would warm up a bit...
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Dieting
Yesterday was the start of my Hollywood Diet where I drink their special "juice" with water for 48 hours. It is suppose to "cleanse" your body of impurities so that you can begin a structured diet program. I've used this approach before and it has been very successful for me prior to starting the Atkins Diet that I'm trying again. It was not that tough yesterday, but I expect to get some hunger pangs today. The key to this whole process is to "jump start" the diet so that I can achieve a ketosis state more quickly. That, as indicated in the article, is when your body turns from a carb burning state to a fat burning state which, in turn, causes your weight loss. There are pills being marketed, and promoted by Dr OZ, which are Keytones and help your body to reach this state. We've tried these pills in the past and they don't work unless you restrict your carb intake at the same time. Also, those pills are expensive. This is what works for me but may not work for everybody.
There are so many options available for dieters that there is a solution out there, somewhere, for everybody. The most important thing is that you believe in the diet and that it is not boring for you. I happen to like the Atkins diet because I can eat the things I like in quantities I don't need to measure - like steaks, chops, eggs, bacon, cheese and other protein foods. As long as the carbs are minimal, I can eat it. When I had a physical exam following my last experience with this diet, my blood work showed all levels well within the normal range - including cholesterol.
On the other hand, Josie's diet comes close in some areas, but she still needs to watch the quantities more than on the Atkins diet. She hasn't officially started her diet yet but has already shown weight loss since trying to follow the concept over the last week. The main thing for us right now is to stick to the plan and not have it go like most other New Year's resolutions. Actually, we both have decided that once we lose it this time, we need to permanently change our eating habits. That's easy to say, but this time we need to follow through...
There are so many options available for dieters that there is a solution out there, somewhere, for everybody. The most important thing is that you believe in the diet and that it is not boring for you. I happen to like the Atkins diet because I can eat the things I like in quantities I don't need to measure - like steaks, chops, eggs, bacon, cheese and other protein foods. As long as the carbs are minimal, I can eat it. When I had a physical exam following my last experience with this diet, my blood work showed all levels well within the normal range - including cholesterol.
On the other hand, Josie's diet comes close in some areas, but she still needs to watch the quantities more than on the Atkins diet. She hasn't officially started her diet yet but has already shown weight loss since trying to follow the concept over the last week. The main thing for us right now is to stick to the plan and not have it go like most other New Year's resolutions. Actually, we both have decided that once we lose it this time, we need to permanently change our eating habits. That's easy to say, but this time we need to follow through...
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Truck Service
The appointment for truck service yesterday was at 8 AM and I arrived at Sanderson Ford in Phoenix right on time. This dealership is the one where I originally purchased the truck and I wanted to try one last time to get some consideration for my radiator replacement. Of course, nobody cares, especially since I already had the work done and spent the money. The work I was having performed was minor - oil change and wiper system check. My windshield washer has not been working and I wasn't sure what the problem could be. Anyway, the work was done and I was on my way by 10 AM.
I received new headphones for Christmas and tried them with my iPod at the fitness center while on the treadmill. They are the Sennheiser HD280 pro model and I got them to use with my behind the ears hearing aids. They completely cover the ear and provide an amazing sound. It was a very good choice. I had been using an old set of Sony headphones but the ear pad only covered the ear opening and not the microphones which are on the behind the ear portion of the hearing aids.
Part of our weight loss plan is to use proven (for us) diet plans, or new ones that are different, but effective. The one that works best for me is the Atkins diet, which I start following the two day Hollywood Diet. It is suppose to "cleanse" your system and prepare you for other, long term weight loss programs. I lost 50 lbs about 10 years ago using this combination, so I'm ready to give it another shot. Josie is trying a different program - the Sonoma Diet. This is a new experience for her and it sounds like a good plan. It's a real shame that the weight takes so much longer to lose than to gain. We are prepared to do several months - or longer - on these plans to achieve our goals. The goals will remain a secret for now...
I received new headphones for Christmas and tried them with my iPod at the fitness center while on the treadmill. They are the Sennheiser HD280 pro model and I got them to use with my behind the ears hearing aids. They completely cover the ear and provide an amazing sound. It was a very good choice. I had been using an old set of Sony headphones but the ear pad only covered the ear opening and not the microphones which are on the behind the ear portion of the hearing aids.
Part of our weight loss plan is to use proven (for us) diet plans, or new ones that are different, but effective. The one that works best for me is the Atkins diet, which I start following the two day Hollywood Diet. It is suppose to "cleanse" your system and prepare you for other, long term weight loss programs. I lost 50 lbs about 10 years ago using this combination, so I'm ready to give it another shot. Josie is trying a different program - the Sonoma Diet. This is a new experience for her and it sounds like a good plan. It's a real shame that the weight takes so much longer to lose than to gain. We are prepared to do several months - or longer - on these plans to achieve our goals. The goals will remain a secret for now...
Friday, January 4, 2013
Insurance Issues
The major portion of the day yesterday was spent trying to get clarification of the health insurance I have with AARP Medicare Complete through United Health Care. When I signed in at the doctor's office I presented my insurance card and Medicare card as I always do. The receptionist indicated that my insurance was not going to cover the visit as expected because the doctor was not the Primary Care Physician on the insurance. I can tell you that I thoroughly researched this insurance and have used it several times, in different locations throughout the U.S. without any problems.
Following several phone calls back and forth between the insurance company, the doctor's office and myself, it was determined that the insurance does cover the visit. Of course, by this time I missed the appointment and had to reschedule for next week. My insurance has what is called a "Passport" option that provides for coverage nationwide with just an out of network copay. The receptionist didn't see this on the card, so she told me I would have to pay the full amount without coverage. Sheesh! Insurance has gotten so complicated with all the changes in the laws that it is becoming impossible to evaluate and decide what is best. It was near 5 PM before the issues were resolved and the appointment is now rescheduled for Tuesday.
I have another appointment today at the dealership where I purchased my truck in 2008. I hope that there are no issues for that appointment. It should be straight forward as there are no warranty issues and it is for normal service. I hope to get a chance to talk to somebody though about my experience with the radiator that failed in Wyoming after only 26,000 miles and Ford did not cover it because the "time" warranty had expired. You may recall that go-around where I argued that a radiator should not fail at 26,000 miles, regardless of how old the vehicle was. It is for that reason that I would never buy, or recommend, another Ford product to anybody. That was a $1600 repair that I ate and Ford should have covered. It really upsets me that they wouldn't stand behind a $50K+ vehicle for a failed radiator within so few miles. Ford was the only auto maker of the top three that didn't accept government bailout money a couple years ago. It seems that they have sacrificed customer service in order to save that money.
I didn't mean for this to turn out to be a negative post, but there are times when it seems like the world has stopped caring about doing the right thing for people so that they can grab more money from us...
Following several phone calls back and forth between the insurance company, the doctor's office and myself, it was determined that the insurance does cover the visit. Of course, by this time I missed the appointment and had to reschedule for next week. My insurance has what is called a "Passport" option that provides for coverage nationwide with just an out of network copay. The receptionist didn't see this on the card, so she told me I would have to pay the full amount without coverage. Sheesh! Insurance has gotten so complicated with all the changes in the laws that it is becoming impossible to evaluate and decide what is best. It was near 5 PM before the issues were resolved and the appointment is now rescheduled for Tuesday.
I have another appointment today at the dealership where I purchased my truck in 2008. I hope that there are no issues for that appointment. It should be straight forward as there are no warranty issues and it is for normal service. I hope to get a chance to talk to somebody though about my experience with the radiator that failed in Wyoming after only 26,000 miles and Ford did not cover it because the "time" warranty had expired. You may recall that go-around where I argued that a radiator should not fail at 26,000 miles, regardless of how old the vehicle was. It is for that reason that I would never buy, or recommend, another Ford product to anybody. That was a $1600 repair that I ate and Ford should have covered. It really upsets me that they wouldn't stand behind a $50K+ vehicle for a failed radiator within so few miles. Ford was the only auto maker of the top three that didn't accept government bailout money a couple years ago. It seems that they have sacrificed customer service in order to save that money.
I didn't mean for this to turn out to be a negative post, but there are times when it seems like the world has stopped caring about doing the right thing for people so that they can grab more money from us...
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Ready for Appointments
Our meeting with the ARAMARK General Manager is scheduled for Monday, so we completed those applications and also the background check form. We are anxious to have that meeting so we will find out what our duties will be for the Spring Training games. Our guess is that many people return from previous years, so our choices may not be many. As long as it is something other than cleaning toilets, we'll be happy. We'll have that answer on Monday.
I also have appointments scheduled for today - my doctor - and Friday - truck service. This will be the month where we get all those things out of the way. There are still appointments to be scheduled for the month, including my Gastroenterologist for a Colonoscopy. That should be performed at least every two years and it has been over three years since my last one was performed. They are not fun as the prep for that procedure includes an enema. We do what we have to do.
Another hobby that we got our hands on yesterday - for a while - is crocheting for Josie and cross stitching for me. There are about 6 or 7 afghans that are in various stages of completion and Josie organized all of the yarn and those projects into separate containers. I did some work on a cross stitch that I started around the time we went on the road and haven't touched since that time. This is a good time to get back into those projects.
There are a couple places that we want to visit yet before the work starts up again, so we will do some planning for those short excursions within the next couple weeks. One is Wickenburg where we like the old west feel, and another is the White Tank Mountains where we would like to do at least one hike before we leave. There are others that will be included, so we'll see what happens...
I also have appointments scheduled for today - my doctor - and Friday - truck service. This will be the month where we get all those things out of the way. There are still appointments to be scheduled for the month, including my Gastroenterologist for a Colonoscopy. That should be performed at least every two years and it has been over three years since my last one was performed. They are not fun as the prep for that procedure includes an enema. We do what we have to do.
Another hobby that we got our hands on yesterday - for a while - is crocheting for Josie and cross stitching for me. There are about 6 or 7 afghans that are in various stages of completion and Josie organized all of the yarn and those projects into separate containers. I did some work on a cross stitch that I started around the time we went on the road and haven't touched since that time. This is a good time to get back into those projects.
There are a couple places that we want to visit yet before the work starts up again, so we will do some planning for those short excursions within the next couple weeks. One is Wickenburg where we like the old west feel, and another is the White Tank Mountains where we would like to do at least one hike before we leave. There are others that will be included, so we'll see what happens...
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Cruising Into New Year
Yesterday was a good opportunity for us to talk about and plan our year for 2013. We've enjoyed the down time we've had since we arrived here in late October, but we need to look ahead at commitments we've made for 2013. As we get further along in this adventure, we are cutting back the work time a little bit so that we can have more enjoyment and free time at the locations where we will be staying. If possible, we would like to get a 4 day work schedule at the Virginian Lodge in Jackson Hole this year. One of the couples already has a shorter schedule but they have been returning for 10 years. We'll see about that.
In the meantime, we have the Valentine's Day schedule in February for Josie to work at the flower shop again and that will be followed by both of us working the Spring Training baseball schedule at Surprise Stadium in late February and all of March. We have our first meeting with the GM of ARAMARK on Monday, January 7. There will only be 6 days during that schedule where there will not be a game scheduled, but the working days should be shorter depending on the length of the ball games each day.
The first of April we will be heading to Washington to spend the whole month visiting family and enjoying the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival that is held each year during April in La Conner and Mt Vernon. We will be placing our fifth wheel in the Thousand Trails storage facility at the Preserve in La Conner at the end of April while we fly back to Illinois to help Patty with her family while she and Mark attend his "winners" club in Hawaii for a week. Sometime in early May we will return to Washington, pick up our fifth wheel and head to Wyoming.
Following another (hopefully) wonderful summer in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, we will travel to Illinois to visit with Patty's family before heading back to Arizona for the winter. We are thinking at this point that we will stay at Lake Pleasant in Peoria next winter, but that can change between now and then. We like staying here at Happy Trails, but the extra costs associated with staying here do not justify the convenience, although there certainly is a value added to staying in Surprise.
There are no other working assignments planned beyond next summer. We hope to be able to take one last looong trip to Alaska, Canada, with a sweeping return through the country to end up back in Arizona sometime during the winter of 2014. Without trying to plan too much detail, we are leaving the next step beyond that open for discussion, depending on how our health is and what our longer term goals will be.
While enjoying the Rose Parade on TV yesterday, we were entertained by another of the several humming birds that are utilizing our feeder that is attached to the window:
This one, although not obvious in the picture, has a red-feathered neck. There is another that has blue feathers around the neck and still another that is all brown. This one, as near as I can tell, is an Anna's Hummingbird. I'll try to find some info on the others.
That's about it for this, the start of the second day of the new year...
In the meantime, we have the Valentine's Day schedule in February for Josie to work at the flower shop again and that will be followed by both of us working the Spring Training baseball schedule at Surprise Stadium in late February and all of March. We have our first meeting with the GM of ARAMARK on Monday, January 7. There will only be 6 days during that schedule where there will not be a game scheduled, but the working days should be shorter depending on the length of the ball games each day.
The first of April we will be heading to Washington to spend the whole month visiting family and enjoying the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival that is held each year during April in La Conner and Mt Vernon. We will be placing our fifth wheel in the Thousand Trails storage facility at the Preserve in La Conner at the end of April while we fly back to Illinois to help Patty with her family while she and Mark attend his "winners" club in Hawaii for a week. Sometime in early May we will return to Washington, pick up our fifth wheel and head to Wyoming.
Following another (hopefully) wonderful summer in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, we will travel to Illinois to visit with Patty's family before heading back to Arizona for the winter. We are thinking at this point that we will stay at Lake Pleasant in Peoria next winter, but that can change between now and then. We like staying here at Happy Trails, but the extra costs associated with staying here do not justify the convenience, although there certainly is a value added to staying in Surprise.
There are no other working assignments planned beyond next summer. We hope to be able to take one last looong trip to Alaska, Canada, with a sweeping return through the country to end up back in Arizona sometime during the winter of 2014. Without trying to plan too much detail, we are leaving the next step beyond that open for discussion, depending on how our health is and what our longer term goals will be.
While enjoying the Rose Parade on TV yesterday, we were entertained by another of the several humming birds that are utilizing our feeder that is attached to the window:
This one, although not obvious in the picture, has a red-feathered neck. There is another that has blue feathers around the neck and still another that is all brown. This one, as near as I can tell, is an Anna's Hummingbird. I'll try to find some info on the others.
That's about it for this, the start of the second day of the new year...
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
New Years Eve
Much of what was on TV yesterday was a review of events that occurred during 2012. An interesting feature of these reviews is when they show all of the significant celebrity passings that occurred during the year. Each year that they perform these reviews, we are shocked at the number (collectively) of famous celebrities that have died during the year. Once again this past year we have lost some icons in the industry that we grew up with. I guess it's just another sign that we are getting old.
Another event that occurred yesterday was the announcement of seven coaches from professional football teams being fired. That bunch also included the Cardinals coach. It seems like a pass or fail measurement. You either make the playoffs, or you're out the door. Talk about job security. I guess I would work under those conditions for 5 or 6 million dollars a year.
The main event yesterday was, of course, our dinner with George, Cheryl, Cot and Lois at Angela's Kitchen in Sun City Grand. That used to be called Dillon's and was taken over by new ownership in April of 2012 following a dispute with the Sun City Grand Board over maintenance issues. It is at least as good as, and maybe even better than Dillon's. Here is a shot of the restaurant as we arrived shortly before 6 PM last night:
They had a special menu for New Years and Josie and I both had an excellent Fillet Mignon. Everybody had an excellent meal and it was a great way to end the year. We had our waiter take a shot of the group:
They all went back to George and Cheryl's following dinner to play a game or two while we came back home. We decided that we didn't want to drive home after midnight with all the "crazies" on the road. We brought in the new year at midnight and then went directly to bed. We were all tucked in by about 12:05 as it was all we could do to stay awake to bring in the new year.
Today is the day for the Rose Parade and, of course, Bowl games. I'm not sure how many of those we'll watch but it is still an exciting day...
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