How's the Weather?

We left Florida in July with hurricane Isaac impending and here we are hoping that Sandy will give us a miss. The huge storm systems have effects beyond their destructive core. The rain falls at a 45 degree angle at times and the winds gust, riptides make the beaches unsafe, schools close and events are postponed.   My chickee hut stays pretty dry. I have been watching carefully because I have, of course, extended music equipment out there.

My left arm is coloring very impressively from wrist to shoulder- lemon yellow to deep purple. Happily, range of motion is greater and pain is less though as the day goes on, the aches increase.  I have been reading incessantly as it focuses my mind on something else. Besides, I enjoy it and have discovered a couple of $3.99 Kindle series that I like. I have read Rowling's A Casual Vacancy and liked it. She is always humanistic even when she takes apart genteel society in rural England ala Grace Metalious (Peyton Place).

Lori has gone to Texas for 10 days. Jason has been a brick-checking on me and making a grocery run.  He has a full plate with tilers, carpenters, painters and awning people to supervise. He also has a new business. He thrives on it until he doesn't and debilitating headaches set in.

The poor dogs are bored but that is what they get when they injure the leader of the pack. Juneau comes to visit and he gets them going-or vice-versa. They do play in the house and yard but the weather hinders that somewhat.

I have things on my to-do list but they will wait until I can hold a screwdriver, drive etc.

Florida Surprises

Hurricane Isaac although hundreds of miles away spawned some nasty weather on the east coast of Florida. My patio canopy and my RV canopy were among the casualties. Lori thought a genuine Seminole Tiki hut would make a nice surprise. Did it ever! It is amazingly cool and cozy under the sheltering palm fronds. Somehow, the whole neighborhood knew about it and kept it a secret from me. It is glorious and I am practically living in it. Having some fun fixing up a "bar"-it has been rain tested and stays pretty dry.  Y'all come-I'll make margaritas.

The trip was pretty good-very little night driving but I made good time and we were without negative incident. It was as enjoyable as a 2600 mile drive can be. That is a long way to drive.

Not so nice surprise:  Thank goodness for "hillbilly heroin." Walking the dogs the second night here, using the retractable leashes. They were being good and there was considerable slack in the leashes. They caught sight of a cat and I went splat. Bloody gash over my eye, face first on the sidewalk. I collected myself for a minute and a nice young man came over to help. I got up under my own steam and retrieved Honey. Buddy had snapped his collar. I went on home with blood dripping down my face. Then the arm injuries became apparent-incredible pain. Jason took me to the nearest urgent care. I had X-rays and caught a glimpse into the economics of urgent care. Blood tests?  $100.00 tetanus shot?  "Come back tomorrow"-more X-rays?  The pain prescription the doctor gave me the first night could not be filled- too rare and dosage too small. Made it through the night with Tylenol and no sleep whatsoever. The PAC who saw me the next day raised her eyebrows at the prescription and ordered some heavy duty Percocet which is good for the pain but puts one in La-La land. A major ingredient is oxycodone which is hillbilly heroin in West Virginia. So I have spent a couple of days swinging from comatose to yelps of pain. The thumb on my left hand is useful only as a handle for my right hand to move my arm. Still, I am recovering; I can move the mouse if I grit my teeth and move slowly. Looking forward to being able to drive someday soon. .

Van Camping

No beans about it, we are at a TA travel center in Marianna Florida. Last night we put on the  dog and stayed at a Motel 6 in Texas. I put some improvements in amenities in the Van before I left: a camping pad if I want to get flat, and a hassock to put my feet on if I want to just recline. I was hoping to make to my old bolt-hole in Quincy at the Flying J but we ran into fog and this seemed good enough. We are back in the South and I am embracing it: grits, collard greens, making sure I specify "unsweet tea." There were lots of folks hawking their sweet potatoes from roadside trucks. And churches! There are so many sects and churches I wonder how many people could be in the congregations. As it is Sunday, I only saw a few full parking lots. Wetter and greener than in Wyoming.

Pampa

After a visit with my brother -took him and Val to supper at Guadalajara? And caught up on family stuff. Jim and Susie were fine-her latest PETscan was clear, she said, I took off very early  from Casper and arrived in Pampa in the dark. Through the grace of God and Garmin, we made it. I was clueless the last two hours. The doggies were good as gold and are enjoying the playground in the back yard today. They were reassured to be in familiar territory. I decided to take a rest day here today. After 14 hours driving, I found myself still drowsy after getting up. Better to nap here than on the road.

Motivation

There has been snow and there has been frozen water.  Launch time is close but I will not advertise. Most of my business has been finished. My phone finally became inoperable after some keys fell off it. This is the model that is built to military specs- haha. God save the troops! The old number will be ported to the new phone when I get it in the winter location.Meanwhile, voice messages will show up in my GMail account.

Jason and Lori are still at my residence but things are finishing up at their house and I will be in transit for a few days. Should work out just fine and if it doesn't I would kind of enjoy staying in the RV.

Went by Hall's to take a little birthday offering and her elder son and girlfriend were visiting from St. Paul. It was fun to see them and they seem fine. Life does trundle along.The kids grow up and we grow old.

Orts

Fixed my computer: I Googled "computer stops suddenly" and found several answers that focused on overheating CPU's. So I got the vacuum and sucked a lot of dust out the cooling ducts. Voila!  Hasn't quit on me since.

"The north wind doth blow." A low temperature of 27 degrees is forecast for tomorrow. Jason says they will be back home this weekend. The chill wind reminds me of how that feels and why I like to go south.The time is nearing.

Rich's wife Val has raised some remarkable daughters-smart and fearless. Her two younger ones are backpacking through Central and South America.  Fascinating Blog can be found here  http://rule2-dontdie.com/     I have tested the link. Val's Facebook page gave the address but it took me a lot of time to make it work finally.

Closer to home, one of my blogger followers, (an old friend's daughter ) has started a blog
http://youcanseeitfromthehouse.blogspot.com/  She is a Seattleite (suburban area) with Wyoming roots. She writes vividly.

Saw an old school teacher  acquaintance (and I do mean old-but vital) who informed me that another former employee had fallen off a ladder and lay there until found expired.  Eila and Leora had coffee or tea at the Trailhead restaurant nearly daily since retiring. I joined them once in awhile to catch up on things. As Hank Laskowski,  English professor/ friend used to to greet me "We're ALL going to die."

Left my phone in the car for two days and thereby missed Rich wanting to schedule a lunch meeting on his way through. Drat. I hate to miss an opportunity to see him. He is having biopsies on his prostate. Doesn't sound like much fun to me. I think his insurance might be too good.

Getting the Van tricked out for travel. I am only taking about six things from here back with me. I am getting the hang of traveling light and of course have plenty of stuff in both destinations.

Buddy is driving me nuts-he is afraid he is going to miss something outside but then gets cold- 10 times in and out today.