November 2013

Once on the move and then the holiday bustle kept me from getting back to the blog. So here goes!

 

 

 

We had forgotten how gray the skies can be in the Northwest, and were more than ready to head south. On November 19^th we left Cedar Glen in Poulsbo Washington. We moved the RV to the Silverdale Lowe’s which happens to be across the street from my orthopedic surgeon.   Since we were early we went in to Lowe’s to peruse the Christmas section. We came out leaving some of our money in their cash registers.

 

 The doctor appointment lasted about an hour.  While in the doctor’s office for the right shoulder check, we booked appointments for the left shoulder. That replacement currently is scheduled for April 28, 2014. For now I need to do heavy resistance exercises every three days and flexibility ones daily for the next three months.

Some of you may know that I was dismayed at not receiving a booklet on shoulder surgery like I had for my ankle and Derrille’s knee.  So I wrote a draft of what I thought would be helpful to other patients receiving a total shoulder replacement.  My doctor was thrilled to receive the draft!  I’d made him a hard copy and one on a flash drive. It will be interesting to see if I get a Shoulder Replacement Handbook when I get my next shoulder done.

 

 

Then we hit the road. Heading straight south on I-5, we drove to Sutherlin OR just north of Roseburg. The next day we drove to Redding, CA. The Elks had been suggested as a good place to stay so we gave it a try.  It was OK, but we would rather pay the extra dollars and stay at our usual park. The Elks RV location, however, turned out to be just down the road from Redding Freightliner….another familiar stop. We had an appointment to fix our dash AC. They had started the process when we went north last spring.  To our surprise they were done by noon the next day, and we were on the road again.  Our routine stops include Santa Nella RV Park in Gustave, a night at the Flying J in Frazier Park and then the run to San Diego/Chula Vista on Friday Nov. 22^nd. 

 
We hit LA abut 10:00 am after descending the Mountain passes known as the Grapevine. Santa Clarita begins our official move through the LA area. That’s where I start praying. Traffic wasn’t too bad, we only had to slow down a few time (for no apparent reason) and come to a dead stop once. One of the interesting features of driving through LA continues to be traveling in the far left lane, the middle lane and the far right lane without ever physically changing lanes. One must be always alert to merging traffic from both sides of the freeway. Irvine CA signals the lower edge of LA.  We drove south in the middle lane of the five southbound lanes and exhaled a great sigh of relief for passing through LA safely. Then it happened!

The “check engine” light came on. Derrille checked the dash and spotted the only gauge showing questionable readings was the Voltage with a slight drop. I called Freightliner in San Diego…one repair place we don’t use or recommend. She said don’t turn off the engine or it won’t start. As long as we are moving continue to do so. Soon a red light will come on and everything on the rig will shut down. We might make it to San Diego…or not.  Thinking LA has to have Freightliner truck repair it checked Google. Most of Freightliner LA places are off I-10, a long ways north of us.  Derrille is reading the Voltage 11.8…11.7…11.5...11. 3.    With the help of my trusty smart phone I located a truck repair in San Clemente, just off the freeway. We pulled in on this late Friday afternoon, expecting we might be living in their parking lot over the weekend. Rincon of San Clemente runs a fabulous repair service. You could eat off their floors! He has one employee who job is to clean the floors.  Before and after a rig is moved from the bay the floor is swept and mopped! The employees sing and smile and seem to enjoy working here. Our problem was not the alternator $$$ as we expected, just a dirty terminal on one of the engine batteries causing a drop in Voltage. They cleaned it up and sent us on our way.

We arrived about dinner time in Chula Vista.  The next morning November 23^rd we moved to our reserved site and I went swimming. I pushed off into the water to swim a lap.  My new right side shoulder replacement gave me a long and powerful stroke. It moved me easily through the water. It felt like a “miracle of motion”.  How thankful I am to be given this wonderful gift!  The movement of my right arm awed me!  The left side moves about as efficiently as a T-Rex arm. I almost drowned trying to take a long stroke with the left side. Swimming is not an easy thing to do with only one working shoulder.  To avoid placing too much pressure on the new shoulder I only swim every other day or so.  Looking forward to a new left shoulder in April!  Hurray!!!

During the first week here we not only settled in, but went out to buy a BBQ, which was our wedding gift for Jason’s roommate Stevie and his bride Marina. Due to a mixed up in planning I chose not to cook for Thanksgiving.  We celebrated Thanksgiving with the RV Park potluck. Nearly 200 people attended the Thursday potluck. The park provides turkey and gravy.  Thanksgiving is celebrated the Saturday before and on the day itself.   Two sets of three tables each filled the walkway outside the large clubroom. The mounds of food accommodated 4 lines of guests at a time. The very tasty array of food and the interesting guests gave us a great day. We sat with a couple who have been full-timing for 7 years.
We did miss not having leftovers, but I had made two pumpkin pies just for our family.

 

Because of the planning mix-up Jason and Desiree visited us Thanksgiving afternoon before attending dinner with her relatives. They brought their two dogs, Newt and Lelu Dallas. Our cats just ignored the dogs...as usual.  Later Jason and Desi went to the airport to get Jeff and his girlfriend Julie, who were arriving for the wedding. We lunched with the four of them in Old Town on Friday before the wedding rehearsal. What great fun!

 

 

The wedding was Saturday, Nov. 30^th which happens to be Jason’s 38^th birthday. Steve and Marina are two very special people. The wedding venue was a Hilton out on Dana Point.  Since Stevie is a part of “the friendship crew” all of Jason’s closest friends were in attendance.  We chatted with all the friends, most of whom we have known for at least 10 years.  What a wonderful evening! Derrille and I danced and danced like we used to. (Yea for new ankles and knees)

 

We got to meet Julie, Jeff’s girlfriend too. She is a delightful young woman.

 

 

 

 To our surprise a birthday cake for Jason sat on the table next to the wedding cake.  Jason entertained the wedding guest with his best man speech.  Awesome as usual!

 

 

 

 Julie and I walked around the facility netted this sunset shot. Of course with my sensory problem it took the following 3 ½ days to deal with my wonderful night of partying. In between we got to go out to dinner with the 4 “kids” again before Jeff and Julie headed back to the Portland area.

 



Between all the hustle and bustle of the wedding Jason and Desiree, as well as Stevie and Marina were in the midst of moving.  Jason and Desi found a condo close to their work. The can see Qualcomm Stadium from their new place. They have also discovered that on a football Sunday or when an event happens in the stadium a good plan remains NOT to come visiting. Parking is a premium. But they love their new place as do the dogs and cat. We are excited for them.

Questions may have arisen for those of you on the Kitsap Peninsula who subscribe to “The Sun” of Bremerton and discovered an article about Derrille and I in the Fall/Winter Outdoor Living insert. While in Poulsbo I responded to a plea by Seabury Blair for Fall/Winter camping stories. I exchange email a couple of time with him and then he asked if he could send a photographer out to take our photo. He wanted to use some of the info I provided in his article. Were we ever surprised by the size of the layout! My sister sent us several copies of the articles. That’s our two minutes of fame.
 

 

May I introduce you to Commodore Pigglesworth III, a Vietnamese Potbelly Pig?  He is walked daily through the park in front of us. Pigsley, as he is affectionately called, resides on a boat in the marina. He ranks as another hypoallergenic pet.

 

 The black hair feels a bit stiff and wiry. He generally drags his lease along the ground as he trots besides his master. Pigsley isn’t quite 1 year old. His pot belly will develop with age.

 

Next:  Welcome Christmas