Back in Houston (Pearland, really) .... the sun is shining like crazy for us. Vera is having severe vertigo today with nausea ... not good.
This week we will have several medical appts. and see what they tell us.
Happy Valentines Day.
Later, Marilyn
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
furnace failed again
Still in Galveston, 32 degrees this morning ...... no heat ..... went to the bathroom in the wee hours of the morning ..... furnace is blowing COLD air. What is wrong with this picture: every time it gets really cold, our furnace fails (for a variety of reasons). OK, this time it's on me ...... monitor gauge says we have NO propane ...... oopsie-e-e !!
Out come the electric heaters again .... we're wearing them out just pulling them in and out of the storage compartments below.
We had intended to leave Galveston on Friday (day before yesterday), because Mardi Gras started that evening ...... and we were thinking to avoid the big crowds and the increase in cost of everything including our camping space.
But then we reconsidered. It did occur to us that our wishing to avoid crowds and such, was probably an age related thing. None of us had ever been to a Mardi Gras, and decided we should experience it.
Went to two out of the five parades this weekend (next weekend is the really "big" weekend - no, we are not staying) ; and it was fun. One parade was around the Historic Strand area downtown, and featured an "Umbrella Hokey Pokey" attempt for a Guinness World Record for the largest 'choreographed dance'. One thousand five hundred and three people (with decorated umbrellas) did the hokey pokey for five minutes and broke the record previously held by some foreign country that I can't remember right now (another age thing).
We caught lots of strings of beads thrown from the floats (not sure what this tradition stems from) and it was pretty much like an old fashioned, old time parade with marching high school bands, lots of jazz music .... fun ..... didn't get to see the Clydesdale horses though. They were supposed to lead several of the parades but I missed whichever ones they were.
A friend had a big birthday dinner Saturday nite for Vera, (she's the one getting old-er, not us).
So, in the morning we will pack up the rig and travel about 50 minutes back to our favorite campground in Pearland, south of Houston. Vera sees the 'back doctor' on Wednesday, then the 'hip doctor' the next week. (see, I told you she was the old-er one) ..... we poke fun at her a lot .... she doesn't SEEM to mind. But maybe we should be careful .... she IS the official cook for this expedition.
Later,
Marilyn
Out come the electric heaters again .... we're wearing them out just pulling them in and out of the storage compartments below.
We had intended to leave Galveston on Friday (day before yesterday), because Mardi Gras started that evening ...... and we were thinking to avoid the big crowds and the increase in cost of everything including our camping space.
But then we reconsidered. It did occur to us that our wishing to avoid crowds and such, was probably an age related thing. None of us had ever been to a Mardi Gras, and decided we should experience it.
Went to two out of the five parades this weekend (next weekend is the really "big" weekend - no, we are not staying) ; and it was fun. One parade was around the Historic Strand area downtown, and featured an "Umbrella Hokey Pokey" attempt for a Guinness World Record for the largest 'choreographed dance'. One thousand five hundred and three people (with decorated umbrellas) did the hokey pokey for five minutes and broke the record previously held by some foreign country that I can't remember right now (another age thing).
We caught lots of strings of beads thrown from the floats (not sure what this tradition stems from) and it was pretty much like an old fashioned, old time parade with marching high school bands, lots of jazz music .... fun ..... didn't get to see the Clydesdale horses though. They were supposed to lead several of the parades but I missed whichever ones they were.
A friend had a big birthday dinner Saturday nite for Vera, (she's the one getting old-er, not us).
So, in the morning we will pack up the rig and travel about 50 minutes back to our favorite campground in Pearland, south of Houston. Vera sees the 'back doctor' on Wednesday, then the 'hip doctor' the next week. (see, I told you she was the old-er one) ..... we poke fun at her a lot .... she doesn't SEEM to mind. But maybe we should be careful .... she IS the official cook for this expedition.
Later,
Marilyn
Monday, February 6, 2012
surf sounds again
We are back in Galveston for a couple of weeks just waiting in between Vera's doctor appointments. Her back is doing ok, but she still has pain and cannot sit up very long, although she walks quite a bit. Her hip problem has now become more apparent (guess the back was masking it somewhat). Hip specialist appt. on the 22nd.
Meanwhile we are enjoying island life ..... it really feels different here .... more relaxed, more friendly, more interesting things to choose activities from. I know that sounds strange when comparing it to the city of Houston ..... problem is - Houston is too impersonal. Anyway, that's my opinion.
Tomorrow Charlie and I are being given a back roads birding tour by a friend who lives here. Specifically we are interested in the sandhill cranes who are wintering here on the island. We've seen quite a few just by the roadsides and at the airport. I lo-o-o-ve to listen to their calls .... almost like a purring sound.
It was 44 degrees this morning .... and guess what ! .... the furnace got stubborn again and quit working. I don't know but what it has something against our being in cold weather. Actually, so do I, but I don't think it's fair for it to quit working every time we need it. But thank goodness for mobile RV repair services; $60. and we are as good as new...... until the next cold spell.
We have been discussing and recussing travel plans for when we head out, hopefully in a month or so. Alaska is definitely out, so is Nova Scotia for this season. Right now we all agree we would like to see the Great Lakes - all of them.
I'll let you know when we hear about Vera's hip diagnosis/ recommendations.
Later, Marilyn
Meanwhile we are enjoying island life ..... it really feels different here .... more relaxed, more friendly, more interesting things to choose activities from. I know that sounds strange when comparing it to the city of Houston ..... problem is - Houston is too impersonal. Anyway, that's my opinion.
Tomorrow Charlie and I are being given a back roads birding tour by a friend who lives here. Specifically we are interested in the sandhill cranes who are wintering here on the island. We've seen quite a few just by the roadsides and at the airport. I lo-o-o-ve to listen to their calls .... almost like a purring sound.
It was 44 degrees this morning .... and guess what ! .... the furnace got stubborn again and quit working. I don't know but what it has something against our being in cold weather. Actually, so do I, but I don't think it's fair for it to quit working every time we need it. But thank goodness for mobile RV repair services; $60. and we are as good as new...... until the next cold spell.
We have been discussing and recussing travel plans for when we head out, hopefully in a month or so. Alaska is definitely out, so is Nova Scotia for this season. Right now we all agree we would like to see the Great Lakes - all of them.
I'll let you know when we hear about Vera's hip diagnosis/ recommendations.
Later, Marilyn
Sunday, January 22, 2012
doing laundry in the snow
This campground here in Pearland has a VERY nice activities building which among other spaces, includes a nice laundry facility.
How many of us have done a load of laundry and left a kleenex in a pocket .... or some such blunder ... ?
makes a real mess, right?
Ok, how many of us has washed an entire magazine in a load of laundry? ...... makes a bigger mess !
Unfortunately it was recycled paper (dissolves and sticks worse).
Fortunately it was a load of underwear (not visible to the public).
But after I took each piece out and shook it; turned it inside out and shook it ..... that laundry room looked like it had snowed inside. I called Charlie for help and it took a while to clean up the mess!
See, I usually take something to bed to read, (remember our space is pretty compact) ..... and there is no surface or place to put it when I get ready to turn out the light... without getting out of bed. SO, I just drop it on the floor by the bed ....... which is also where the laundry basket resides.
Vera and Charlie have been grousing about having to pick newspaper and magazines out of the laundry basket for awhile ..... guess I learned my lesson
Vera continues to improve from her surgery; however she has had a couple of episodes of irregular heartbeat (she has a pacemaker). We are hoping it is not severe. She sees the surgeon on Wednesday, when we will find out the schedule for physical therapy or whatever is next.
Later,
Marilyn
How many of us have done a load of laundry and left a kleenex in a pocket .... or some such blunder ... ?
makes a real mess, right?
Ok, how many of us has washed an entire magazine in a load of laundry? ...... makes a bigger mess !
Unfortunately it was recycled paper (dissolves and sticks worse).
Fortunately it was a load of underwear (not visible to the public).
But after I took each piece out and shook it; turned it inside out and shook it ..... that laundry room looked like it had snowed inside. I called Charlie for help and it took a while to clean up the mess!
See, I usually take something to bed to read, (remember our space is pretty compact) ..... and there is no surface or place to put it when I get ready to turn out the light... without getting out of bed. SO, I just drop it on the floor by the bed ....... which is also where the laundry basket resides.
Vera and Charlie have been grousing about having to pick newspaper and magazines out of the laundry basket for awhile ..... guess I learned my lesson
Vera continues to improve from her surgery; however she has had a couple of episodes of irregular heartbeat (she has a pacemaker). We are hoping it is not severe. She sees the surgeon on Wednesday, when we will find out the schedule for physical therapy or whatever is next.
Later,
Marilyn
Friday, January 20, 2012
little green trees
We can't find the two boxes of household stuff that was temporarily packed up to make way for the Christmas decorations: place mats, kitchen towels, pictures, potholders, some bowls, glasses, mugs .... and the silverware (stainless flatware). Vera puts out a LOT of Christmas themed things. All of the above plus kleenex boxes and a lot of little decorative things.
The Christmas silverware has white handles with little green trees on them; I told Vera they don't have to be considered only as Christmas silverware ..... she said no, "who has silverware with little green trees on them" ......
Well, there are only two places our regular stuff could be: either here in the motorhome, or in the storage place which is down the road a few miles. Well, this motorhome has exactly 347 square feet plus about 150 sq.ft. of storage compartments below. Not that hard to find something .... you know: "a place for everything, and everything in its place".
And the storage place doesn't get shifted around much .... should be able to find the two boxes we put in there about one month ago. not so.
Only thing we can figure is we inadvertently put them with the "give-away" boxes.
I guess eventually we'll buy some new stuff ..... for now .... we're eating with little green trees.
Later,
Marilyn
The Christmas silverware has white handles with little green trees on them; I told Vera they don't have to be considered only as Christmas silverware ..... she said no, "who has silverware with little green trees on them" ......
Well, there are only two places our regular stuff could be: either here in the motorhome, or in the storage place which is down the road a few miles. Well, this motorhome has exactly 347 square feet plus about 150 sq.ft. of storage compartments below. Not that hard to find something .... you know: "a place for everything, and everything in its place".
And the storage place doesn't get shifted around much .... should be able to find the two boxes we put in there about one month ago. not so.
Only thing we can figure is we inadvertently put them with the "give-away" boxes.
I guess eventually we'll buy some new stuff ..... for now .... we're eating with little green trees.
Later,
Marilyn
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
home again
Vera is "home" from the hospital .... everything looks good ..... so now just lots of rest, etc. Thanks to everyone for the prayers.
We are here in Pearland, only 10 minutes from the medical center .... snug in our motorhome (AND the furnace is working - 44 degrees this morning).
Later,
Marilyn
We are here in Pearland, only 10 minutes from the medical center .... snug in our motorhome (AND the furnace is working - 44 degrees this morning).
Later,
Marilyn
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Warm, hammer and nails
77 degrees today .... go figure ! BUT, hey, no complaints.
After going to church this morning, Charlie and I put on our carpenter hats and got to work.
The deal in a nutshell is: Vera's bed is 32 inches above the floor (storage cabinet under it); and with recent back surgery there is slim chance she can get in and out of it .... certainly not easily. The problem is compounded by a very limited space (about 12 inches wide) alongside the bed. Also, the entry steps up into the motorhome are extremely high (9 1/2") and shallow. Our stepstool is not big, tall or stable enough.
So, being the good friends that we are, and the compulsive architect that I am ..... we set about to build steps and a platform. First, borrow a circular saw. Second, borrow a garage and workbench to work in (as opposed to the picnic table by the side of our motorhome - it has rained several times today). Third, cut pieces. Fourth, nail pieces together.
Meanwhile, up at the hospital, Vera has her doctor, the PT dept, her nurses and anyone else who is interested ..... on board the project to help "get her ready for the motorhome". The doctor flat said he won't discharge her until ... (we get the steps built) (my words, not exactly his).
So ... end of the day, we have items 1,2 & 3 complete; ready to nail. We'll keep you updated.
Vera is doing much better ... currently her struggle is emotional, as her blood sugar levels climb (caused by the IV steroids) and she fears becoming diabetic. I've been told that the levels will go down once she is off the IV; but she feels very vulnerable right now ..... got to get these steps built!
Later,
Marilyn
After going to church this morning, Charlie and I put on our carpenter hats and got to work.
The deal in a nutshell is: Vera's bed is 32 inches above the floor (storage cabinet under it); and with recent back surgery there is slim chance she can get in and out of it .... certainly not easily. The problem is compounded by a very limited space (about 12 inches wide) alongside the bed. Also, the entry steps up into the motorhome are extremely high (9 1/2") and shallow. Our stepstool is not big, tall or stable enough.
So, being the good friends that we are, and the compulsive architect that I am ..... we set about to build steps and a platform. First, borrow a circular saw. Second, borrow a garage and workbench to work in (as opposed to the picnic table by the side of our motorhome - it has rained several times today). Third, cut pieces. Fourth, nail pieces together.
Meanwhile, up at the hospital, Vera has her doctor, the PT dept, her nurses and anyone else who is interested ..... on board the project to help "get her ready for the motorhome". The doctor flat said he won't discharge her until ... (we get the steps built) (my words, not exactly his).
So ... end of the day, we have items 1,2 & 3 complete; ready to nail. We'll keep you updated.
Vera is doing much better ... currently her struggle is emotional, as her blood sugar levels climb (caused by the IV steroids) and she fears becoming diabetic. I've been told that the levels will go down once she is off the IV; but she feels very vulnerable right now ..... got to get these steps built!
Later,
Marilyn
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