phyllser

Too funny!! Maybe I'll make you a big pot of my chili Thursday! You're going to stay a couple of days, right!? Could go out to dinner with Tracy and Jim Friday night... that's their usual Friday night routine. Maybe we should go see the tulip festival if the weather is good... Saturday? I think it's supposed to rain today, but then just cool and cloudy the rest of the week. Sorry about the ciggy rant! I just get so angry about the lying. I don't usually "ask", just say something like, "I smell cigarettes", which prompts his "I don't have any" comment. So, yeah, just keep my mouth shut, I guess. He was well away from the pumps when he was smoking... that's why he was so easy to spot!! LOL! We got home yesterday morning and SIL came over and helped unload for a couple of hours. Then moved the RV over to his house because we didn't want to block the parking lot for any longer. Neighbors knew we were coming, so they moved their cars before we got here. Now we have all this crap to put away! I put most of the kitchen stuff away while they were unloading... refrigerator, spices, canned goods, Rx, etc! My clothes are in baskets all over the bedroom... the ones that don't hang up. books and junk in bags all over the LR! Bag of mail that I picked up yesterday afternoon in a bag on the rocking chair! So... yeah, some stuff to put away, but it'll get done! So.... do Candice and I have to tell you how much wine we drink while they are here??? Candice, I don't remember what kind of wine you guys like to drink. We have all red right now. Tell me what you drink.

Yeah.... spoiled, I guess!! I've never been very good at long distance driving! But, Monday morning traffic in Seattle???? FORGET IT!! I dilly dallied around long enough so that it was 10 a.m. before I got on the interstate!! I filled up the gas tank and got the car washed. Funny thing, though... well, really , not so much!!! When I got off at our exit, which is right next to costco, there was Earl puffing away on a cigarette while the RV gas tank was filling up. HAHAHA!! Every time I ask him if he's still smoking he says the SAME thing..... "I don't HAVE any!" in a rather indignant way... like I can't believe you are even asking me that! What it really means is, I don't have any in my hand right this minute!! So I look over as I'm at the signal by the exit, and there is the RV at Costco, and there he is in a cloud of smoke! He just doesn't get it that what pisses me off is LYING about it!! If he wants to smoke, so be it... there's nothing I can do about it, but it infuriates me that he lies about it! How stupid!! I mean... like I can't SMELL it??? Maybe I AM stupid, because I'm always willing to give him the benefit of the doubt! Every time he tells me he quit, I believe him, and it's never true!

You better take it easy with that remodeling going on!! We're in a condo, and next door neighbor showed us all the remodeling she's done since we left. Made me jealous!! She had someone build in cabinets the entire length of her dining area! Looks great! I sure could put all those cupboards to good use! It's very tempting! And she had new kitchen sink and countertops put in. That would be nice, too. Her Mom just left her a nice inheritance, so she redid her kitchen, all her floors, master bath, fireplace, etc. Don't understand insurance denying you another shot! Often takes a series of three before you get decent relief! I used to be a pre-cert nurse, but things have changed a LOT in 10 years! And, just wait.... it's going to get worse! Last 5 years I worked it was with insurance.

Good Morning! Took a break and now I don't remember what anyone said! Read a couple of pages trying to catch up. Julie... so sorry you are having such a time with the pain! Hope they figure out some relief for you SOON!! Eva.... MORE cement!! Good grief!! Lori, hope the house sells quickly! Sounds like you had a very successful shopping trip!! I LOVE when things come together like that! We had a great visit with DD#2 and family yesterday. SIL went and bought steaks, corn on the cob and a bottle of Merlot when he heard we were coming! So he fixed us a really nice dinner. Kids are always a "gas"!! I'm going to upload a photo.. they're laughing at me because I yelled "smelly socks' to get a response from them! I want you to notice Johannah, the oldest. I often wear those "newsboy" style hats and I bought her that one several years ago. She went and put it on when she heard we were coming and wore it all afternoon! And.... notice she is sipping cranberry juice from a wine glass!! LOL!! She loves her grandma!! Those kids are such a blessing... One of these days I will tell you the whole story... Kids were married over 13 years before Johannah was born. Were told only a 30% chance of getting pregnant! Other photo is DS#1 and his family back east visiting family last week. Cute picture!!

Good Morning! Just finished my coffee and breakfast. Bought smoked salmon in OR, so I'm having a little in my omelet each morning. Yummy! Still in my nightgown at 8 a.m. I'm trying to stall! Not anxious to drive north.... towards Seattle, until the morning traffic subsides! Earl is making me drive the car! 65 miles! Ugh! He doesn't want to hitch it up. Has to dump... didn't have a hook up last night, and has to stop for gas at costco on the way home. SIL will come over and help him unload when we get home. I've alerted the neighbors that we're going to block parking for an hour or two while we do that. Good visit with Jodie and family! SIL BBQd steaks on the grill. Oh, well.... at least if I'm driving myself home... I'll be stopping to see my latte lady when I get there! Better, and cheaper than SBUX! Karla.... chill.... it'll all come together. Enjoy visit with Candice and Peter! Where's Karri been?? Good to see Linda post again! Miss our gals when they're not around! Janet.. sounds like you had a really quiet weekend. Dogs... Tracy & Jim dogsitting for Alisha today! Little mini dachshund. Picture on FB of the two dogs snuggling looks like all is going well! Here's photo of kids from yesterday, and my favorite of Chris & Kellie's trip to Buffalo to see family last week. Kids were laughing.. I yelled "smelly socks" to get them to laugh! Notice Johannah... as soon as she heard we were coming.. she went and put on her "Grandma hat"! I often wear that style hat, and I bought her that one several years ago. Also, note that she is sipping cranberry juice from a wine glass!! :thumbup:

Good Morning! Beautiful day here near Portland OR. Taking my time getting moving as I-5 is closed from Olympia to Tacoma until noon. We will be crossing in to WA state shortly after we leave here. Can you believe we are camped behind an outlet mall and I haven't gone over there to shop??? And a Starbucks right in front of us and I haven't been over there YET either!! I am going to use the park showers today.. and after that I will venture over to SBUX. I've been whining about not enough caffeine for a few days. And yesterday, in Bandon, I bought a hanging sign that has a big red crab on it and says, "I'm crabby until I have my coffee!" I threatened to wear it around my neck. I wish they had a sweatshirt or t-shirt that said that!! Because Earl doesn't get it. He keeps handing me my Breakfast before I've had a chance to drink my coffee. Then, I CAN'T drink it for a LONG time and by then it's cold! I shouldn't complain.. we have been trying to get on the road by 8 a.m. and I don't usually get up until 7 a.m., so it's hard to get the coffee in, get through my morning routine, have breakfast.. all in an hour! I haven't yet touched the fudge!! But I did eat the four little cranberry creams/milk chocolate that I bought yesterday. I'm saving the wine for a leisurely afternoon. Had a nice visit with our friends yesterday evening. They took us to dinner at restaurant right in front of the RV... Elmer's. I had fish again.... but it was fried!! food has not been very good last two days. I did eat lightly the rest of the day, though. Tight at lunch time. Ate two small leftover ribs and a little tomato soup.. Better get to the shower so we can get out of here before noon!! :biggrin::confused:

On the move in OR! Back in to WA today but not going home for a couple more days. Will "camp" south of Seattle for a few days to visit with daughter #2 and her family before we go home. Beautiful day ... near Portland. Taking our time getting on the road today as I-5 is closed from Olympia to Tacoma until noon. Trying to keep up reading all your posts each day so I don't get too far behind!

Mt. Rainier... well, you can go there without hiking, but it'd be an all day trip and we'd probably enjoy some other things more. Wine tour is a definite possibility... Woodinville has many wineries and breweries. Probably need TWO designated drivers as no van to haul all of us. I'm counting 8, is htat right??? Anyways, we can get Earl and Jim, maybe! If Tracy & Jim aren't gone that weekend. I think they might have plans, but I can find someone. Seattle waterfront would be fun. And definitely we have to do Anthony's HomePort Happy Hour one night. You can get touristy t-shirt on the waterfront. Decided not to go to Tillamook... weather reports said wind and rain on the coast today and tomorrow. Took a beautiful drive from Reedsport OR over to I-5 along the Umpqua River. Saw a herd of elk today... two yesterday along 101. Now we are at Portland-Woodburn RV park, behind Woodburn outlet mall, but Earl is discouraging me from going shopping and I really don't have it in me anyway!! Waiting for old friends from days gone by to arrive for a visit and we'll probably go to dinner at restaurant right in front of the RV park. Just had one rye crisp cracker w/lite cream cheese and a strip of smoked salmon we bought in Bandon this morning! Oh... washed it down with some Merlot!! LOL Yes... wineries.. a good idea. There are lots more besides just St. Michelle now! And we can hit the Seattle waterfront and maybe Pike Place Market!! Fun! We can watch them toss the salmon around at the fish market. Karla..... so glad you are settling in to YOUR NEW HOME!! Candice has been doing pretty good checking in considering she's on the road!! Chatted with her on Skype... yesterday, today???? One of those days!! Tomorrow we will be crossing the Columbia River and entering WA!! But... not going home for a couple of more days!! :thumbup::biggrin::laugh: We are going to stay at an RV park in the south end... Black Diamond, where we lived for about 6 years, because it's close to where DD#2 lives. It's a 65 mile drive to go see her, so we'll stay there 2 nights so we can visit and see the grandkids before we go home. I was drunk last night, I think!! And just had two glasses of Merlot!! Candice, we are SO BAD!!! And my buys of the day, in Bandon this morning, were ALL BAD!! I bought a bottle of Pinot Noir, from the Bridge Winery.. 2004, I had a bottle last fall and it was SO good that I sent my sister a check so she could get me another bottle and bring it to SF when we were all there for Christmas. Then I bought 1/2 lb of fudge and some chocolates from Cranberry Sweets!!! The smoked salmon is okay, but the rest of the stuff is BAD! Friends here... have to close!

Drove less than 150 miles today.. Santa Rosa to Garberville. So we were here by noon. I fixed sandwiches while Earl finished set up. Then we unhitched the car and took a drive through the Avenue of the Giants. Every time we come through here I want to do that, and there are always excuses as to why we can't. So I thoroughly enjoyed being able to do that today!! Tomorrow we will probably stop at Gold Beach OR. I think it's about 200 miles. Sky Valley neighbors arrived there today for their summer job. But not sure we should bother them on their first day on hte job. My favorite fish place en route is about 20 miles north of there, and there's an RV park there that we've stayed at before. It would be our day to stop at my sister's but she is gone through Monday, so not this trip! Yeah, driving in the wind is a killer! Hate it!! We are traveling up Hwy 101, currently in No Cal. On in to OR tomorrow. I think we'll be home about the 20th, maybe a day before. Depends on how much playing we do between now and then. I'm thinking I might like to visit Tillamook cheese factory again. It's been quite a few years. We haven't had any free stops, except at our friends' in Three Rivers. But last night only cost us $12.50 and tonight $16.50, thanks to our Passport America membership. I am having wine, too.. and I think my new favorite might be Pinot Noir! Got this one in Gilroy for about $15 and BOY is it good! And... I totally enjoy correcting everyone's spelling!! LOL! Drink up! Cutting Vancouver Island would be depressing! Think about a day trip out of Seattle (hydrofoil) or Bellingham. Bellingham is about a 90 minute drive from our place, but you can catch a boat there at 8:30 a.m. that will take you to Victoria. Then you can take cabs, or rent a scooter, and see Victoria for the day. Boat goes back about 5 p.m. and they serve a nice picnic style salmon dinner on the way back. Think it might be around $100 a person. Doesn't give you a lot of time there, but enough to hit the Dutch Bakery and Rogers' Chocolate!! :biggrin::crying: It's also a possibility for July, but don't know if you gals want to spend a whole day on something like that. There is so much to do in our area, picking a few is a real challenge...Mt. Rainier, Leavenworth, Victoria, Seattle waterfront, etc! I wasn't too upset by the two who got kicked off AI last night. Just so glad it wasn't Michael. I really like him! He might be my favorite, but I like the two gals that are left a lot, too!

Yeah, and he was already grumpy and now we have electrical problems. Like no turn signals, brake lights, back up lights and maybe anti-lock brakes. Stopped in Mountain View at his brother's so... two electrical heads to figure it out. Janet, I don't know how you will curtail your shopping "problem"!! My friend Jacki that we were just visiting... she has a similar problem, but hers is with 2nd hand stores. She dragged me around to every one within 20 miles the other day! And she never leaves empty handed. She buys mostly glass and household stuff. She has provided us with a lifetime supply of matching champagne glasses that we'll probably never use!! And Earl doesn't know where to put them all! She has every kind of glass you can imagine, wine glasses, champagne, brandy, etc., etc.! So.... maybe if you switch to 2nd hand stores you'd spend less! :cool::biggrin::eek: I did find a couple of things.. a nice polo shirt... pale blue with pink rose pattern. I love it! And a nice teal short sleeved cardigan that I wore on Sunday. And I bought a bunch of beads that I'm going to clean, cut apart and reuse to make more jewelry!

I think Earl said it was because Obama canceled Bush's tax cuts. Same thing happened to us. Nothing changed. Last year we got back over $1500. This year we got $289~!!!

Thanks... just starting now so I had plenty of time to walk over and take a shower. Sick of no water pressure in the RV. He seems to be grumpy about every other hour! Sick of it! Pissed me off the other day... was online checking accounts and found that Desert Sun charged us for 1 yr subscription on the same day I put it on vacation suspend... $80+, so I got chewed out about it! It was an automatic payment... didn't even know it was going to happen and I didn't do it. But he got all mad at me. Then we go in the house and he flips a switch... oh, Mr. NICE GUY, sweet as can be to everyone. I was ready to kill him. Ruined my day and then a big phony! Then he always tells me I took it TOO personally!! He wasn't mad at ME!! But I'm the one that gets yelled at!! Give me a break!! Stick to your guns!! Good plan!! The ONLY one you're taking care of is YOU!!!

Happy Trails, Kiddo! Sounds like you had a great visit with Linda and Mel! Remind me again when you think you'll be in our area. We should be home in a week! CONGRATS!!! Had a great time shopping... except when my battery went dead and Earl had to come and bring me the other scooter! He was ticked and very grumpy... but he's the one who gave me the OLD scooter that hadn't been charged since we left a week ago!! It lasted about 2 hours if that! So he was mad because he had to unhitch the car to come and swap scooters! Tough... I wasn't going to push the thing all the way back to the RV park... and I wasn't done shopping! Earl had a good birthday. We were at the jazz festival from 3 pm until about 9 pm. But we went in the pool before we went, which he always enjoys, and Jacki and I had bought him a Marie Callender cherry pie. She wanted to know what kind of cake and I thought he'd enjoy a cherry pie more, so that's what we got. He loved it. I found a couple of things at the Salvation Army store and a pair of those champion pants at Target... usually $15 and I found a pair in my size marked down to $3.47! Then I went to the bottle store and got a bottle of Merlot. Not that we didn't have any, but sometimes I like something besides 2 buck Chuck! Think I'll go over to the showers before Idol starts. But then, I don't remember what time Idol starts!

"Street Fair"... everyone calls it COD in the desert.. College of The Desert! That's where they have the street fair. It's huge and I LOVE going there. DH tolerates my trips there, barely! Had a WONDERFUL time in Three Rivers all weekend at the Jazz Festival! Weather was GREAT until 15 minutes before it ended. Then a cold wind brought a storm front through and within a few hours there was a drastic change including rain that went on for about 36 hours off & on. We headed out of Three Rivers this morning and drove just under 200 miles to Gilroy CA... garlic capital of the world! I love it here! I don't think I'm going to get to go to the Garlic World store, or to the outlet mall, but I spent the afternoon shopping at the Salvation Army store, Kohl's, Target and others. Found a pair of our "favorite" pants... regularly $15, on a sale rack for $3.47! And got an almost new pair of Lands End cords at the S.A. store, $40 in the catalog, $3.60 at S.A. Tomorrow we will travel a big 45 miles to Mountain View. OUr oldest son & family live in military housing there, he is a Navy Commander.... but they are in Buffalo visiting my Mom, sisters and other family. But DH's brother also lives there, so we'll park in front of their house for the night. Plan lunch with them tomorrow, but they have a 5 pm commitment, so we'll be on our own in the evening. Maybe I can talk DH in to unhitching the car and taking me to Fry's Electronics! Sorry... I am a "techyGrandma"! Love Fry's! I think it will take us another week to get home!! :cool::biggrin::eek: We travel very slowly! Plan a stop at Gold beach OR to camp next to Sky Valley neighbors who are there for a job with the state campground system. They are videographers/photographers. Then we'll stop at my sister's a little further north but still in OR. Probably be there this weekend. That will put us home Tuesday or Wednesday. My sister's days off are Sunday/Monday, so we'll probably leave there on Tuesday. That sounds like a good decision! just read Apples update on your dr visit. Hope you are feeling better SOON!!! BEAUTIFUL!! I have to take 4 Keflex 1 hour before and 3 hours after every dental appt!! For the rest of my life! I asked about that at my post-op appt during my physician asst part of the visit. He was the one delegated to answer all my questions. He said, "well, it's debatable and not a requirement, but if it was me, or if you were my mother, YES... forever!" So I am doing it! We saw a friend almost lose his replacement to a bad infection 10 years after his surgery. He was on IV meds for a couple of months, but they were able to clear it up without drastic surgery! I will try to get some Sudoku games going tonight, but on the road, our internet connection is iffy at best! We have it in this park, and we'll have it tomorrow because all of Mountain View has free wi-fi, I think through Google, but not sure. After that... who knows! Depends where we stop. Sometimes there is someone nearby with a satellite system that is unsecured.. then I "borrow" it! LOL I had 5 pages of stuff to catch up on so please forgive me for not responding to all!! I love you all and enjoyed each and every post!!

Left Three Rivers this morning.. drove just under 200 miles to Gilroy. Soon as I have some leftover chili I'm going shopping... RV park is right behind a shopping center... Target, Kohl's, etc., and a Salvation Army store where I always find good clothes at a good price, and other goodies as well. So I'm headed out fo the afternoon in a short time. Love to spend the day here exploring. And I'll be gone a long time so I"m taking my scooter! There's a Panera Bread over there so I'll grab some sour dough rolls for Earl so he won't yell when he sees me coming with shopping bags! LOL Karla, hope you are in the house legally and officially SOON!! Not surprised with the contacts situation... my experience exactly! That's why I rarely wear mine. Can't read the small print.

Hang in there girl! You're doing a great job of toughing it out! Geez.... hope your ankle is okay!! We had a fantastic time at the jazz festival. Weather was perfect! About 15 minutes before it ended yesterday afternoon, a sudden cold wind blew through and that was the beginning of a nasty front! Within hours it was pouring rain, and it's been nasty ever since! So what a blessing to have such nice weather for the whole entire jazz festival. The bands were terrific! And we sat outside in lawn chairs most of the weekend. Had to put on sweatshirts, jackets and grab our blankies when the sun went down, but what a great weekend! Hope it's all over soon and you're happily in to your new home! Hope they can find contacts that work for you SOON! Glad to hear you're having a great visit with Linda and Mel. You really have to do something about your spelling!! LOL Peter would have LOVED the jazz festival!! Have you ever gone to one???? There were about 100 RVs on site dry docked, and estimated about another 100 at local RV parks. It was GREAT fun, TERRIFFIC music, a good time was had by all! We took bottles of wine with us each day. Lions Club cooked a meal each night... pork loin/chicken the first night, tri-tip the 2nd night, and the #1 best... deep roasted beef brisket the last night.. they dig a big pit in the dirt on Thursday, build a big fire in there and bury a side of beef in there. Then they cover it up again with the dirt and cook it all weekend. By Saturday night it is unbelievable! They served it with cole slaw, beans and rolls. I did pretty good all weekend... Gave most of my bread/rolls to Earl, ate the cole slaw, beans and meat. Splurged with an ice cream bar yesterday... I think it was 170 calories. We've been in the pool a couple of times, but too cold yesterday. We might go in tonight anyways! Sounds like a perfect weekend for you, too! So glad Jeff made out so well with the kids! I was worried about that with him just home and you gone for the whole weekend! Sounds like a "God thing"!

Yeah, lots of wind on the way. Beautiful day today, though. I sent you a text message... heard there was another earthquake today... centered in Mexico, 5.5. A friend felt it in San Diego. That's what is so great about an RV... you DO have your own bed!! We even put a sleep number bed in ours, so it's just like home. Leave for the jazz festival kick-off dinner pretty soon. It's a nice warm day, but it will cool off fast when the sun goes down so I need to go out and get some warm clothes to take down there. It's just 3 miles down the road. Jacki & I went thrift shop shopping ALL day today! I'm tired!! Found a few treasures, a nice flowery polo shirt and pretty aqua short sleeve cardigan. I hope you have a wonderful weekend at your women's conference!!

Made it all the way to Three Rivers. Got here at 3:30 p.m., so a little over 7 hrs. Too long of a day for us. But, relaxing now. Jazz Festival starts w/dinner tomorrow night... pork loin, I think.

Stopped at Flying J in Lebec... 1/2 way to Three Rivers, almost through the "Grapevine". Computer logged on to someone's netwrk! Thank you very much! Four hours on the road to go185 miles! Heavy wind, lots of traffic. Too much partying last night again! Have to stop this! Then I don't eat. Had a small mug of pea soup last night.

So sorry you upset your dad! I thought it was a great picture. I would think family would want to see how he is doing!! You had good intentions! Don't feel bad about it! Our last night in Sky Valley and I am so sad! Sat out on the neighbor's patio with several other couples most of the evening! Had way too much wine and now very melancholy about leaving! Can't wait until we're back in Oct!.

Pity Party!! good idea! I am already missing my Sky Valley neighbors and friends and missing them! Hate to be pulling out in the morning!! I want to stay!! Hugs!!

eggs are great, Eva! Wish the golf cart was mine! Son called on the phone and we were being too noisy, so I sat on the golf cart to talk to him! Julie, Hope you get a good rest tonight and feel better tomorrow!! I was summoned for jury duty last summer, but it was the week that I had my knee replacement surgery. So DH told them I could do it this spring!! So I'm hoping I don't have that waiting for me when I get home! Hugs, Laura! Glad you're there for your Mom & Dad for a few days.

Wow! Really quiet here today!! I've been gone all day... usual pool stuff, then Red Hat luncheon in Palm Springs. Then had to stop by Walmart, one last check for bathing suit at Glossy, and one last Starbucks. Didn't get home until 4pm. Supposed to go to pizza party at 5:30 pm, but was called off. Host, Jim, got blood work back from dr today and blood sugar was out of sight. Between that and the wind, decided it was a bad idea... and we had a very nice get together yesterday afternoon... Easter dinner, etc, and even an earthquake caught on my camera!! So tomorrow, it's off to the Marine base to pick up Rx refills and that will take most of the day. Then last minute packing up to get ready to pull out Wed. morning. Weather doesn't look all that great for the drive or for the jazz festival this weekend!!

Dinner with high school classmates last night was very enjoyable! What a great time catching up! Potluck ham dinner with neighbors out side on the patio this afternoon. Much fun... and an earthquake thrown in for entertainment. We were rockin' and rollin' for 30-30 seconds. I have video on Facebook... just happened to have my camera on video right when it hit. Here are some photos from last night and this afternoon.

Very enjoyable afternoon and Easter dinner with the neighbors. Great fun. Even had an earthquake while we were sitting out there! How is that for excitement!?? 7.2 magnitude centered in Mexicali, less than 100 miles south of here. We rocked and rolled pretty good! And I just happened to be recording video on my camera when it hit, so I actually have it recorded. Have to censor it before I put it on FB because we were playing with this stupid battery operated parrot that repeats what you say at the time! Felt an aftershock about 30 minutes ago.