2012-01-25

It has been a while.  Marilyn’s cousin’s wife asked yesterday when I was going to write a blog, and then Jan Mains asked, in an email today, if I was going to just write blogs once a month. Then when I looked to see when I had last written, Jan was right, I had not written since the first of the year.

Most of our time since the first of the year seems to have revolved around going to doctors, but we have been able to go to Busch Gardens twice to see the concerts.

On Friday, the 3rd, I had carpal tunnel surgery, and was stuck with a soft cast for two weeks. The doctor said it the stitches could come out in two weeks, but his office was closed that Friday the 17th.  The stitches came out the following Tuesday (21st), but I had taken the cast off the previous Saturday the 18th. These are pictures of the cast, the incision with the stitches, and finally a picture of the incision as it is healing today.

I have finally been signed up with the Veteran’s Administration, so next month is filling up with doctor’s appointments too. Three (2/10, 18 and 24) appointments are with the VA in Brooksville. The surgeon wants to see the incision again on the 4th, and my sleep doctor wants to see me on the 24th.

The last two Wednesdays, we have enjoyed Busch Gardens.  On the 5th we saw Herman’s Hermits with Peter Noone who is now 66, and on the 12th, we saw Chubby Checker who is now 72. The first three pictures of Herman’s Hermits. Chubby Checker still sounds like he did when we were young.

 

At Busch, there were lots of birds to grab your attention.  

There were also animals in camera range.

 

On Thursday, the 16th, and Saturday the 18th, we drove to Tampa to attend the Tampa RV Super Show.  Always fun to see the old and new items that the vendors have.  Molly & Bob Pinner were manning the Escapees booth. They were doing well, and of course we received extra hugs. We did not buy a lot even though we spent a lot of money.  We bought a grill mat (plastic? mat that sit on grill – you can even fry eggs on it),  Then we bought a new Tire Pressure Management System to replace my non-working PressurePro system – the batteries can even be replaced in the new system instead of buying new $50 sending units. The last item we bought was a Winegard Carryout Satellite dish. When we got home I hooked it up, set on the ground, and it quickly found Direct TV even in the trees of Sumter Oaks.

Lastly, but not least we also had friends an family to visit.  Marianne and Joe Mellon met us for lunch at the Ramshackle Café in Leesburg this past Tuesday. Yesterday we drove to Lakeland, FL to visit Marilyn’s cousin Paul and his wife for an afternoon lunch. Both were great visits.

2014-01-01

i have been informed that I blew it.  Today is Wednesday, not Thursday as I indicated in my blog.  New Year’s Eve really was Tuesday, not Wednesday.  Oh well, such is an old man’smind.

2014-01-01 Happy New Year

We left Doug’s house on Friday after Christmas, drove back to Sumter Oaks, and Beverly drove back to Dayton. We all arrived home safely.  Bev had construction around Cincinnati, and we had heavy traffic from just before Ocala until we got south of the weigh station.

From Friday to Tuesday, we unpacked, Marilyn did wash, and we made more than one trip to Wal-Mart.

Wednesday afternoon, Marilyn and I joined 5 other couples to celebrate New Year’s Eve (Marge & Gordon Dembsey, the organizers of the evening; Don & Sue Paulson; Larry & Carolyn Jarvis; Frank & Maureen Halliday; and Dan & Kathy Smith).

Marge arranged for us to start the festivities in The Villages at TooJays  Restaurant.  I took the pictures as we were getting ready to order dinner.  Next on the agenda was the movie “Saving Mr. Banks”.  We had all wanted to see it, after seeing the commercials for the past weeks, and none of us were disappointed.  Then we all went back to Marge & Gordon’s screen room for coffee, cake, snacks, imbibing, and wishing everyone a wonderful 2014.

Merry Christmas - 2013-12-25

We hope that all of you are having a Very Merry Christmas with family wherever possible.

Before leaving Sumter Oaks, Wanda let us know that we are now number 2 on the list for long-term site rentals (ERPU as the program is called in Escapees language).  I did take another picture of the dash of our motorhome to show off Marilyn’s decorations.

We left Monday morning, and drove the Jeep to our son’s home in Columbus, GA, and Doug served pan seared rib eye steaks that were oven baked with a parmesan crust.  Our daughter, who lives in Dayton, OH, joined us on Christmas Eve.  Then we, joined by Doug’s friends Laila and Russ, all went out to Bonefish Grill for dinner.

Marilyn decorated Doug’s tree.   Doug tempted his and Laila’s dog Roman by making him lie down and not eat the treat on his paw until the command was given.

Christmas morning we enjoyed the presents under the tree. Then it was time for a delicious egg casserole, sausage, and Fo-mosa (orange juice and sparkling apple cider) for breakfast,

Type at you later.

Thursday, 2013-12-19

This has been another busy week. 

On Sunday, the 15th, we had a blast from last winter.  Jack and Dottie Barry came by to visit.   We drove to Coyote Rojo, in Bushnell, for another wonderful meal.  We all had the $12.99 special – beef and chicken fajita combo.  Marilyn and Dottie had some leftovers, but they were so good that Jack and I finished ours.

Monday, we had the house washed.  We thought the price was really good for here in FL – $100 for wash and $100 for hand wax.  It may not be as good as the $35 wash that Dennis got in Yuma, AZ, but they did polish the wheels.   Monday afternoon, Matrix delivered my new CPAP machine.  It has a higher setting than my old machine 15 instead of 6), but I guess I am getting used to it.  Monday was also Carolyn Jarvis birthday, so we went to Oakwood Smokehouse to celebrate hers, and three others including Sue Spahn’s (14th) and Maureen Haliday”s (19th). 

Tuesday, I went back to the dentist for my permanent crown, and impressions for a partial.  Next appointment is 1/13/14 for a fitting.  I stopped by Lone Oak Cemetery, Leesburg, to take a picture of the Veteran’s Wreath on her Father’s (the crypt includes Richard, her brother, N Douglas, her Father, and Lucia, her Mother) grave.

Wednesday there were a couple of trips to Wal-Mart, Marilyn made Christmas cookies, and I helped a little stirring the batter.

Of course, presents are getting wrapped so we can leave early Monday morning for Columbus, GA.

Type at you later.

Blog: 2012-12-14

The other day, Dennis Hill sent me an email reminder.  He said for me to Blog, that it had been over a month.  So, I will put something together.

Most of the past month has been about doctors, dentists, etc.  They started out as normal yearly checkups.  However the dentist wanted to replace a crown due to decay.  It required a root canal, then a temporary crown, next it will be a crown and a partial plate.

Our physicals went well, except Marilyn has a headache (me).  Sleep doctor wanted a new sleep study.  Now I will get a new CPAP machine.  In January, I will have carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand.

We had a great time celebrating Thanksgiving with Marilyn’s Cousin (Paul, 87) and family.

Marilyn has decorated the motorhome for Xmas.  We have done most of our shopping, and now have to wrap them before we go to our Son’s home in Columbus, GA for the 23rd to the 27th.

On the 12th, we, along with Larry & Carolyn Jarvis, went to Busch Gardens for two of the Christmas Shows.  We ate lunch at the Desert Grill so we could watch their Christmas show, but it was so active that the picture is blurry.    Then we went to the Christmas Ice Show. We had a minstrel entertain us before the show actually started.   This Christmas tree was taller than me.   While walking around, we saw these Pink Flamingos dancing around as a group.   Then, before heading for home, we took a train ride around the park, and we saw Giraffes, Rhinoceros, and deer like animas . 

We have also attended some of the Sumter Oaks RV Park activities (breakfasts, dinners, etc.)