In A Nutshell

We left on Monday as planned.  Since it wasn’t a weekend and there are several campgrounds in the area between Texarkana and Little Rock, we didn’t make a reservation.  Out first choice was full, second was closed permanently, third closed due to flooding, fourth gave the last spot to the guy in front of us, fifth was also flooded and finally we found a place 6 miles off the interstate just outside of Little Rock.

When we went in, our place was a mess from all the potholes and bad roads.  Arkansas did warn us "Potholes Ahead." 

The crockpot was on the floor but ok.  The cabinet doors had opened and Corelleware was broken into a zillion white shards all over the place, the microwave had opened and the glass plate was across the RV in pieces, the pendant light was hanging 6 inches down on wires with the shade broken and the clock was off the wall!  

We cleaned up the mess and assessed the damage.  I have lots of Corelleware so no big deal, the pendant lights are due to be changed out anyway so that will be taken care of, the clock did not break and could be rehung but I need to order a new glass plate for inside the microwave.

We had to take the narrow country road six miles back to I-40 and relaxed a bit.  But that didn’t last but two hours and kapow!, the pothole that disrupted the inside had ruined a tire.  We were on the side of the road for almost three hours.  I spent a half hour trying to explain to Coachnet road service they cannot tow a 5th wheel,  if she sends a flatbed it had to accommodate 50 feet because the truck would need to pull the trailer on to it and I just needed a tire changed.  In all the discussion she never asked if we had a spare!

We waited an hour for a young man to arrive, with a small jack.  This didn’t bode well.  Eventually agreeing he was ill equipped to do the job at hand, he used a stack of our leveling blocks to lift the jack up to the frame and Ted’s long handled screwdriver as a replacement for the 6 inch handle his jack had.  We did have a spare and finally we were ready to roll.

Through all of this I had been on the phone with my nephew who dispatches at my brother’s trucking company trying to find a replacement for the spare.  He couldn’t find a Goodyear but did find a Firestone not far up the road in Brownsville.  We stopped and had it put on the rim, they tucked it back up underneath and we continued on to Yuma, TN where we spent the night.

We were only about 100 miles from Nashville and contacted the same tire company there and made an appointment to buy 3 new Firestone tires and have them put on, placing the Goodyear back as the spare.  $1400 later we were on the last leg of our trip which was just minutes from Nashville Shores.

Things got better after that.  We got checked in, parked and set up, and spent the evening watching TV,  

Thursday was a leisurely day and a few people arrived.  My sister rented a pontoon and we went for a 2 hour boat ride on the lake.  We had the entire Marina Restaurant filled at dinner.   The younger group went into Nashville bar hopping,  Friday the entire group made it in.  We had all 24 lakeside cabins, two hillside cabins and two RV spots rented for 98 people.

That evening we had the pulled pork Ted had smoked for a group dinner in the common grassy area between the lake and the cabins.  Having no one outside our group in any cabin gave us full rein of the area.  There was even a small play area for the little ones.  A poker game ensued, a lot of visiting went on, and a bunch of little kids were running around.  

Saturday was a group effort breakfast of scrambled eggs, pancakes and sausage.  I scrambled the eggs while niece Cindy and husband Tim cooked the rest.  We had two tables on their porch set up buffet style.  You went up one set of steps, got your food, crossed the duplex porch and down the opposite steps!  We had gathered all the picnic tables into one area for eating,  

At 10 o’clock the water park opened and everyone headed that way.  We had a huge tented area reserved for  our group.  Dinner was served there at 5 pm but people drifted in and out throughout the day.  The food was delicious at dinner and by 7 we had all returned to our accommodations for a final evening together.  

The rest are photos taken throughout the weekend.

A Lost Week

This will be short and sweet since you all know if I don’t write it down right away, I will never remember all the details.

Monday I stopped by the doctor for my urine specimen.  I haven’t heard otherwise so I guess that means the medicine worked and my infection is indeed gone.  I have no idea what I did the rest of the day.

Tuesday I took Nancy for her second cataract surgery.  This one was a bit quicker than the other one so I arrived home before dinner time.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were spent getting everything together to load the trailer on Sunday.  It takes awhile to get all the paperwork things together so I can handle bills, social things, volunteer responsibilities, etc. while we are gone.

Then I have to plan ahead for clothes for engagements we have to attend.  And enough of our bang around clothes so I don’t have to visit the laundromat frequently.

Ted went to the trailer and checked the tires, turned on the refrigerator, and did his overall checklist before leaving.  I took the pantry items out and put them away.  It is the only cabinet we can reach when the trailer’s slides are all in.

Earlier in the week he had the truck’s fluids and filters all changed.  I did pick him up and take him back a time or two.  I just don’t remember which days!

Saturday we went to Mass, grabbed a bite and then went to our neighbors for a visit while we were both in town.  We are like ships passing in the night.  We can’t decide who is gone the most.  My money is on them!

Sunday Ted moved the RV to the campground.  I had been at home loading my car and when he said he was set up and on his way home, I put the refrigerator and freezer things in bags for him.  I emptied the refrigerator, cleaned it and loaded up my car with those things.

It takes awhile to get everything in its proper place but we got it done,  I have three baby gifts, two Christmas gifts and my scale that I had to find spots for but I did it!   We had a pizza for dinner and watched TV.  Rain is predicted for Monday.  Ugh!

Dr. Uber Week #3

Wednesday was Ted’s annual endoscopy.  Dr. W said he took a few biopsies but didn’t see anything that looked too suspicious.  We are keeping our fingers crossed that he is correct.  If any Barrett’s reappears it will be back downtown to Dr. E for an ablation.  I had to drive him of course.

Thursday was our ladies luncheon but only three of us were there!  We normally stop for the summer but we were encouraged to keep having it.  Maybe we should have stuck to the original calendar.

Friday was my mammogram so I drove myself over and back with a stop at Hobby Lobby for the dollhouse nursery set I will wrap as a gift for Ally’s shower.  When they have moved into a 2 bedroom apartment in the fall I will order and pay for whichever bed, mattress and dresser they choose.  Kara is buying the high chair and will use the third piece of the nursery set in the same manner.  No dragging huge boxes around doing it this way.

Ted was gone all day so I started right in on cleaning because Sherida and John are coming Sunday for dinner.  They have had us twice in their new home and I am falling behind.  We are leaving next week so I wanted to be sure to have them before we leave.

Saturday was our normal routine.  I finished up getting ready for company by cleaning our bedroom and bath last, going to the store and setting the table.  After Mass we ate at home.

Ted shot early on Sunday, Father’s Day, and received gifts, cards and calls from all the girls.  I bought him a lovely card and as soon as I find it I will give it to him!  He has his two new tubes for his Kolar gun so he was fine.

Sherida and John came and we watched some baseball until the Astros were way behind then switched to the Open.  Being at Pebble Beach made it fairly late here.  We stopped for dinner, played some cards (I lost again!) and then had dessert.  It was a fun day and it was nice having them over on Father’s Day.

This week is my last two Dr. Uber duties.  I have to go for a UTI check up to be sure all is clear.  Nancy has her second cataract surgery Tuesday and I will be taking her.  Wednesday is haircut day for both of us.  I will then have a few days to prepare for departure!

It is late in the season for us to still be here but the weather has been pleasant so far and the storms throughout the Midwest made us glad we aren’t in the road.  I hope Mother Nature is done for awhile!

Start of Doctor Week #2

We watched golf and baseball over the weekend, went to Mass, out afterwards to eat with Terry and Carol and pretty much stayed close to home.  Ted did finish smoking all the pork so that is done.  Seven shoulders and butts made 25#.

Monday was our joint cardiologist appointment.  Dr. D said my vein still has some remnants of the DVT but agrees with Dr. P that it has probably just become attached to the vein wall, hardened and will cause no harm.  My vein valves still leak somewhat in the left leg but since I am not experiencing any symptoms we will leave well enough alone.

They took Ted’s history, gave him an EKG, were amazed at his BP and also the fact he takes one 20 mg antacid a day and no other meds.  They gave us a paper saying he was low risk for his upcoming annual endoscopy.  Ted asked me if he needed that and I said no, I think they did to have a reason for the visit.  She said to come back in one year for both of us!

Gerre stopped by to bring the beautiful blanket she crocheted for our great grandbaby.  What a tremendous gift that can be passed down to the next generation when the Acosta babies are grown.

We had dropped the truck off to have the transmission fluid changed so when it was ready I dropped Ted off and went on to the nail salon.  Now to get a haircut before we leave!

The stupid NBA finals were on Monday night so we watched some stuff on A&E which we never have on.  Most everything else is reruns now.

Tuesday was a shooting day for Ted and 3-13 card game for me.  (I lost!). When I finished, I stopped at Hobby Lobby to see if they had dollhouse nursery furniture.  I am buying the crib and dressing table or dresser for our great grandbaby due in October.  By the way - It's a GIRL!  Until they move to a bigger apartment they don't have room so will use the bassinet and Pak N Play initially.  To avoid being emptyhanded  at the shower I want to wrap up a tiny crib and dresser.  They were out of nursery pieces but the lady ordered some that should be on the truck arriving Thursday.  

So I went to the Dollar Store and stocked up on greeting cards.  I lost my Birthday Alarm account when I had to change my email address and have missed most everyone's birthday and/or anniversary so far this year.  They allowed me to change my email but no notices have come through.  Whatever!  Good news though regarding the gas company.  They sent me a bill!  It took 6 months to achieve that but I was never able to get them to just email the amount I owed even though my account has my new address.  Again - whatever!  

Week One of Doctor Weeks

I had a 10 am appointment Monday for my ultrasound and she did both legs spending a lot more time on my left leg.  I am not sure if that is good or bad.  That gave me a late start with getting daily chores done.  I also had put an  8# pork butt in the crockpot before I left.

Ted had to buy a box and pay $88 to send his gun back, they would not send him the trigger mechanism.  He took it out, he said he could put a new one in.  But they said no.  He has been unhappy with this gun because of constant problems.  So apparently I am buying another set of tubes for Father's Day for his Kolar so he can shoot Sporting Clays with it.  Usually he only shoots Skeet with it.  Whatever!

The pork was done before he got home so I took it out, readied the crockpot and started a second one.  I had pulled most of it by the time he got home so we packed and froze 2 gallon bags, our first Reunion cooking!  We had a silly combination for dinner to help clean out the freezer in preparation for eventually freezing bags of pork. The second butt was done right before bedtime.  We worked together to get it packaged and the kitchen cleaned.

Next up on Tuesday was my neighbor's first cataract surgery.  I picked her up at 1:30, waited and brought her back home a little after 5:00.  I suggested some more freezer things for dinner but Ted voted for going out and chose House of Pies.  You have no idea how hard it is to eat there and not order Coconut Cream pie, but I did it!  Grilled chicken sandwich, fruit and water.  

Wednesday was an early day.  I had to leave the house by 6:15 am to drive a friend to the hospital for some foot surgery.  As fate would have it, I woke up about 3:00 am and never went back to sleep.  It was just starting to get light and raining something fierce when I left on my “corporal work of mercy.”  I used that term on my grandson but I think it went over his head!  We arrived in time, valet parked and made our way to surgery.  Everything went well and we were on our way home by lunchtime.  I helped her into the house and she wanted to take a shower and wash her hair.  Once that was accomplished I fixed lunch for us both and stayed until her husband returned home. 

The next day I went over to fix her lunch and stayed for a few hours.  Friday was back to the doctor for a bandage change and brunch out before returning home once again.  She has been doing so well and has had virtually no pain.  What a blessing!

Week One of Dr. Uber is in the books.  Next week is cardiologist, endoscopy and mammogram.  Two for me, two for Ted.  So far everything that has been done to everyone has been good with no problems developed and healing coming along nicely.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, Ted put his smoker on the deck and chose to smoke the rest of the pork butts and shoulders.  He finished two more along with a brisket and is it ever good.  There are 98 people coming to the reunion so we have to continue on until we have at least 25# of meat prepared.  I am not sure how many guests are children but we will have PB&J for those not interested in our pulled pork.  People arrive all day long so we will start serving by 3:00 and keep the crockpots going until all have eaten which may be late into the night.  There is a big shopping day at Costco in our future when we arrive in Nashville.

Ted is working an NSA registered shoot on Saturday and I will clean house and start assessing what clothes I am going to take with me on our trip.  Besides 5 days in Nashville, we will spend two days visiting The Ark, 4 days at Elk Lake for the 4th holiday and our godson’s college graduation party, a dinner with my brother who will be in Cincinnati when we are, a grade school group dinner and a group high school lunch.  That leaves about three days yet to plan!  Then we will move on north to Celina OH for two nights so Ted can shoot with my other brother before heading to where the kids live.  We will be there just short of two weeks and Ally’s baby shower will be the day before we leave for Indiana.  Except for a summer dress or two for the dinners, shorts and capris should be fine for the rest of the time.

Staring Down The Last of Three Gatherings Here

Because I schedule everything in May since it is the one month I know we are home, things get a bit hectic.  Thursday would be the Five and Dime gathering of a dozen women but I had things to do before then.

 Tuesday was a work day at the Thrift Store.  I arrived to the two paid workers fighting with one of those pop up tents, trying to close it.  They finally dropped it and walked off mumbling about the condition of the store.  Whichever group works on Monday of course wasn't there because of the holiday.  The manager, head cashier and Housewares lady were off all week.  Donations were piled everywhere and we had nowhere to work sorting clothes!  

Kim and I tackled the tent, opening the zippers which were keeping air inside, considered all the tabs and buckles, gave it a twist and voila, it closed!  We got hugs from Mark for that.  He proceeded to just put box after box out back in storage until we had a minimum amount of space to work.  Summer clothes were needed in the store so instead of opening bags of donations we brought down bins of pre-sorted clothing from upstairs to tag and put out.  I was to leave at noon but stayed an extra hour. My suggestion would be to stop taking donations for a few days but until the Housewares lady returns, the space robbing items were going nowhere!  But no one asked me!

Wednesday I cleaned, sent Ted to the grocery and got my tables and food ready for card playing.  The ladies arrived around noon on Thursday, ready to take my money again!  Shanghai consists of six different hands.  They each get more difficult.  "Getting down" with the called for hand and then playing the remaining cards is the focus and the lowest score wins.  We had two tables and ours was a doozy!  Everyone had triple digit scores, almost unheard of, and though I went out (0 scores) four of the six times, the other two hands put me in 4th place.  Now you know why I don't play poker!

Friday I put away the dishes and things I used on Thursday and did laundry.  Ted was scheduled to shoot in a competition in Huntsville but his trigger mechanism broke just as they started.  Since he didn’t take his other gun, he couldn’t continue.  He took the gun apart and could see a broken piece.  He will call the manufacturer for a whole new trigger mechanism and install it.  I encouraged him to order the proper tubes for his Kolar gun so it would be equally good to use for Sporting Clays.  I hope he can get that piece quickly, or the tubes.  Both would be best.  

The weekend was quiet.  Other than going to church and out to grab a burger, we stayed close to home.  I had to buy a shower gift for Ally’s baby from my sister so we stopped and did that.  I didn’t want to start traveling with that still on my plate.  Groceries to feed two meals to 100 people will be enough for the time being.

The next three weeks I am designating Uber Doctor week.  In order, I have to get an ultrasound, take Nancy for cataract surgery, take another friend for foot surgery and back again later for a bandage change.  That's the first week.  The next is cardiologist appointments for both of us.  Mine for ultrasound results, Ted's because our PCP said someone going on 75 should have a cardiologist!  Ted's annual endoscopy is next followed by my mammogram.  The third week is lab tests for me and a second cataract surgery for Nancy.  Everyone should be in good shape by the end of June!  Good thing because the next week we will be On the Road Again!  🎶🎶

It is hurricane season now until November.  Be prepared.🌪 ⛈