More demolition

Today we went to Home Depot for roofing supplies and to a store that sells floor tile and rugs. We finally got home with help from Clayton, because we could not get all our purchases in the car. Then the fun began. The real challenge was to get the roof of the slide off, and to do that, I had to remove the awning, which is spring loaded. After much discussion with Roy, I was able to remove the awning and get on with the business of removing the remnants of the slide roof. Finally we could see blue sky from inside the slide and realized that we had succeeded. Then I cut the new roofing to fit, and we ended the day with the first layer on. Tomorrow I will install insulation and more supports and the bottom of the roofing. Hopefully, it will be water tight, and we will not have the serious problem of a rotten roof caused by water leakage. This was the process that Ancera RV suggested would cost us $8,000-$10,000 in labor alone if they did the work. So far it has NOT cost us anything like that, and I have learned a great deal about the structure of our slide.

Foxy was busy all day doing her part in the reconstruction. She has been filling nail holes with spackle compound and removing a sticky residue left after she pulled off a decorative border. She is getting the wall ready for painting after I finish the roof. We work well together, and somehow the day flew by, and we fell into our recliner chairs and thought about dinner. Finally, a salad and pork chops from the grill was dinner. Showers and soon bed. Happy travels.

Terry says hi to Ron

My friend Terry from Denver sent me a note this morning and mentioned she had a friend who lost part of a finger, "He jogged one way and his dog, on a leash, jogged another. He enjoys being able to count to 4 2/3 on one hand. It seems Ron might enjoy that kind of math." Ron,, you are becoming famous.

My Uncle Frank had one more thumb than normal on one hand and found it a useful place to hold a cigarette while driving. Perhaps if we could find a person like Uncle Frank who had too many digits they might share with Ron.

The woodcarvers are happily taking classes here, and one shared his daily output with us last evening. He had all of his fingers though, and we could not help checking. We wondered if at their last meeting, they could have a show of hands of those that are digitally challenged and perhaps get a more accurate count. All in favor raise your remaining fingers. We might get the wrong finger though, if they still have it. Would it count as a half vote? Happy travels.

Ron the woodworker

Our friend Ron is a very good woodworker, making lovely furniture for their real home, as well as the motor home he shares with his wife Julie. Ron sent us a picture holding up his hand and is sadly missing a digit. How could he have done this? When did it happen? Is he going to continue with his woodworking projects? Maybe he should become a member of the Digitally Challenged Woodcarvers of Texas as a charter member. He could then visit Texas both in the spring and the fall. This made me think of Mr. Bill, "Oh noooooooo, Mr. Ron!" There is a picture to be attached of Ron and his missing digit. Stay tuned. Happy travels.

The digital challenge

On Friday we were checking in a couple who were planning to stay here and participate in the Texas Woodcarvers conference held here in Kerrville spring and fall each year. I noticed that he was missing three of his fingers on one of his hands. After we took this couple to their site, I came back to the office and was talking with Susan when I had a wild crazy idea. Let's keep track of how many of the woodcarvers have missing digits. The first day we discovered that ten digits were missing. Apparently woodcarvers have to be very careful when using wood working tools or digits come up missing. So now we have a daily count as the woodcarvers come and register to stay at our RV park. I think the count is up to 15 or so today. Tomorrow we have about 39 more couples arrive. Who knows what the missing digit count will total. Keep your fingers away from woodworking machinery. This means you, Ron. Happy travels.

Exercising

My doctor encouraged me to exercise and tighten up my stomach and abdomen muscles, as that would help me regain bladder control after the surgery. He went on to say that I was already in good shape, but this would make things even better. I was pleased that he thought I was in good shape since I really know better. However Foxy and I are taking him at his word and have resumed walking about the park which is about a mile. We have been doing this in the early evening after dinner.

Foxy has severe back problems and is on a regimen of exercises to strengthen her back and stomach muscles. She has been coaching me in the proper exercises, such as leg lifts, all of which should improve things for me, too. I am out of shape! I may be good at walking, but this leg lifting stuff is tricky. Apparently, you have to suck your abdomen muscles as close to your spine as you can get them while breathing in, and then do the lift while counting to five or ten, and then put the offending leg down slowly while exhaling. All of this while trying not to laugh or fart is difficult for me. I can manage some of these things but not all very successfully. So far it seems like there is more laughing, grunting, and farting but not much leg movement. What ever happens to the abdomen muscles that are trying to snuggle with my spine, happens. It is an uphill battle, but I am persevering and trying hard to follow Foxy's good directions. I believe it is a long way to getting buff. Happy travels.

One for all and all for one

The other day I got a package in the mail from son Chris and his kids Tyler and Brittani. They had sent notes of encouragement, drawn pictures, and then included two yellow wrist bands that are inscribed "LIVESTRONG." Foxy and I immediately put on the bands and will not take them off until this medical challenge is over. Chris also sent his brother Jerry and his family enough bands for all of them to wear, and today they sent me a picture, a note, and this title. I had to use the title in the blog and hopefully can get the picture included with Foxy's help.

As you can see, Foxy was successful. We are wearing these wrist bands from the foundation set up by Lance Armstrong to defeat all types of cancer. If any of our family or friends would like to join us in wearing the yellow wrist band we would be delighted to supply the band. Just let us know. Happy travels.

Navajo Grill

Once in awhile I comment on a place where we have stopped for a meal. The other day after meeting with my doctor in Fredericksburg, we decided to go out and celebrate with a good dinner while there. Foxy had gone on line in anticipation of this idea and found several eating places in this city that we had not tried. We looked them up and checked them out and finally stopped at a new steak house on main street. The sign said, "Closed," but the lights were on and the door unlocked, so we ventured in to discover that they were indeed closed and had not really opened at all but had merely tried some lunches. They had been working for two years to renovate the building and were about finished, but not yet open for dinner. The owner gave us this information, so I asked him where he goes for a good steak and he recommended the Navajo Grill. We thanked him for the information and acted on his suggestion.

The Navajo Grill is also on Main Street but at the other end of this town, and it proved to be a delight. They specialize in Southwest cuisine and suggested a New York Strip with a balsamic reduction and topping of a horseradish butter. This was complemented with fresh vegetables and mashed potatoes seasoned with Poblano red peppers. It sounded good, and we thoroughly enjoyed the offering. The side salad was crisp and had several additions such as pecans. I even had room and tried the chocolate chipolte pie. Ambiance was wonderful, as this restaurant is housed in a renovated house, but there is also outside seating available as well. Out waitress was Cat, short for Catherine, and while attentive, she was not intrusive. The whole experience was splendid, and we recommend this experience to one and all. It is a bit pricey and should be saved for special occasions. I am hoping for just such quite soon again. Happy travels.

The road ahead

Today has dawned bright and beautiful. I give thanks for another day to share with my beloved Foxy. We have some worries behind us and can now plan to accomplish much in the days ahead. We have begun the process of rennovating our slide and expect the cabinet maker to make necessary measurements today. Once Ryan has done this, we may head to San Antonio to order the blinds for the windows and try to find a wallpaper place that can help us decide what to put over our vinyl wall coverings. So the rennovation moves forward. I still have some furniture to remove, meaning our dinette and benches. We think that we will replace this item with a drop leaf table which will take up less space, which is at a premium in a motor coach. Then it is on to the floors and tearing out the carpet. These projects in our days off will keep us very busy for sure.

Max thinks I should quit doing things like writing this blog and play with him. He has been concerned about what he senses is going on and sticking very close to me. I think I will go play. Happy travels.

Tears of relief and joy

We had our doctor visit to see what the C T scan showed and learned that the cancer had not spread or metastasized. After much discussion and lots of questions, we have decided on the surgical option. In about six weeks I will have the necessary surgery, and in the meantime, I will do abdominal exercises, give blood for any emergencies during the operation, and have my heart checked out so that it is strong enough to have the procedure. Then I will take off about a month from work for recuperation. Tears of joy and relief. I feel very positive about this whole thing and am especially grateful for all the support I have received from all over in the form of cards, notes, emails, prayers, hugs, and love, many of which were totally unexpected and appreciated so much. Thank you to all of you! Happy travels.

Demolition Derby

We started our demolition derby today. Recently when we discovered that the living room slide in our motor home would go out but not back in, we took the coach to Ancera to see if the RV dealer could discover what was wrong. They discovered that the slide was catching on the rug, and that is why it would not come back in. The also learned that we have had a slow leak in the roof of the slide that needed to be repaired. They implied that the repair would take more than a week and cost up over $10,000. We were shocked and returned home to think it over.

We then invited an RV repair man, Chris, to look over our problem, and he called in an expert cabinet maker. After much discussion it was decided that to get at the ceiling of the slide we would have to remove all of the cabinets in the slide, especially those hanging from the ceiling of the slide. This was to be our job. So today we began the demolition. It took several hours, but we prevailed, and the cabinets are now out of the slide and indeed out of the coach. In the process we decided to also replace the window treatments since Foxy hates them. Once everything was out, we re-thought the cabinets and decided that it would be better to have the new ones built under the windows along the floor, and thus there would not be so much weight attached to the ceiling. We are going to replace the window shades with wood blinds that have quite a nice new look. Chris will work on the ceiling leak if it ever stops raining. It has rained for two days and is scheduled for three more days yet. Maybe we should stop the repairs and start building an ark. It will never float, so I guess that is unlikely.

We will also tear out the rug and tile and re-do the flooring. We have been looking at tiles and flooring but no firm decision so far. When this all gets done, the interior will be quite roomy and different in appearance. It is already much brighter in the living room with the valances and cabinets removed. Although there is much work ahead, we are enjoying the process. Happy travels.

Have a C T scan

I have never had a C T scan in my life until yesterday. When Foxy and I got to the hospital and checked in, we were immediately greeted by a young man who gave me a large container of red colored juice that looked like Kool-aid to drink. I was to drink all of it, and he would return in about forty minutes. I poured some of the red stuff in a glass and began the process. It did not taste bad or good. It was just red. I kept wondering if the technician wanted to get colored, maybe red, pictures of my insides. At least they would be pretty. Somehow I managed to drink all of the red stuff and then hoped it would be all right if I visited the bathroom to get rid of the part that I had processed. I did not ask permission. Two trips later and the young man returned, and off we went for the next stage.

We entered the scanning room and once properly dressed (you have to be properly dressed), I was told to get up on and lie down on a narrow bench that then could insert your body into the scanner. He made me comfortable and then prepared a needle to insert some Iodine mixture in my veins, probably to make the pictures take on a brownish tinge I thought.

When Maurice fell off a ladder in his kitchen some years ago, he had his first C T scan, and they checked his head. He later learned that there was nothing there. He always feared that there was nothing there, and we had lots of laughter over his empty-headed condition. Now it was my turn to learn that there was nothing in my head, either. We could then be the brothers with nothing in our heads.

Sadly, the tech only scanned my chest and abdomen. I really wanted to have it all done, but it was not to be. When he inserted the Iodine stuff, my body began to warm from the inside from my head to my toes. What a great way to get warm. The scan was quickly over, and I was helped up off the narrow bench, and the proper clothing tossed into a laundry bag. I redressed where necessary and was free to go.

Apparently in an adjacent room there are other techs that do nothing but look at the scans and then send their findings on to your doctor, who can also look at the pictures. A very good friend wanted me to request a C-D of the scan, and I tried but didn't get too far with that request. I do not think it would be too bad to let me see the pictures, especially if red or brown in color. I wonder if my insides are still colored. Happy travels.

Showers and green grass

Sometimes here in the Texas Hill Country it seems like feast or famine when it comes to the weather. Spring has been beautiful this year, largely in part to lots of winter rains. As reported previously, the wild flowers have been abundant and simply beautiful to view. For the last several years we have been in a drought period and had to endure water rationing and watch trees die and grass wither. But nature is resilient, and when the rains returned the grass greened up. Most of the trees survived.

This week we are getting a number of showers, and the grass has responded. My definition of grass is anything green that we can mow. There is no such thing as a green weed unless we can not mow it. My yard is populated by something which has a purple flower and is really quite pretty even though it is getting rather tall. It can be mowed though, so it must be grass. If we can keep ahead of the growing with our mowing, we can continue to believe that it is, indeed, grass. With our showers this week it all may prove to be a challenge. I am hoping that my yard is populated with grass, not weeds. Happy travels.

How do animals know?

Years ago when I had a heart attack and was in a recovery period, my faithful dog, Opus, never left my side. He seemed to know how comforting his presence was, and how it helped the healing process. Recently I read about a cat who lived in a rest home for the elderly. Somehow he seemed to know when the end time had come and would climb on the person's bed until they had passed. Our current rascal of a dog is Max, and twice now he has climbed up onto my lap and laid his head into my arms and stayed there quietly with me. Does he know that I have a medical condition, or he he just tuned into me enough to want to be there and give of his love? I think that dogs and cats sense things and that they try to alleviate pain in ways like this. No wonder we have these critters in our lives and homes. Happy travels.

Friendship

I treasure my family and firends. Recently Foxy and I have been dealing with a serious medical matter and have shared details with them. My family is inclined to not share personal stuff, certainly not any medical matter. When there was sharing it was under the caution of not to be told to anyone else. Somehow I feel that it is better to be open and honest, not that I am into blabbing all over the place. In any event I have decided to share recent developments.

The response has been wonderful and so supportive. We have received many phone calls and lots of emails and the kindness and thoughtfulness has been terrific. As I progress throught the medical system I am so pleased that we chose to stay here in Kerrville. The support we have received has been gratifying. The fact that the doctor involved operates from a faith base is especially important to me.

I have prostate cancer and tomorrow will undergo a C T scan to see if there is any further involvement of the disease. Next Monday we meet with the doctor to discuss the results and next steps. He is very positive and feels that, "We will win this!" I like his attitude. Best of all I am keeping positive thanks to Foxy's support and the outpouring of prayers and love. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Happy travels.

Wildflowers redeux

(Please note, if you click on the slide show pictures, they will appear in bigger more beautiful pictures! Please do and enjoy!)

Several friends had taken a road trip to see wild flowers and reported that they were simply stunning south of San Antonio. So this morning we decided to try the area out and drove Interstate 10, 65 miles to San Antonio and then turned south. The entire trip to the city was beautiful, and there were fields of flowers almost continuous along the roadside and in the median strip. Once in the city we turned south and drove to Poteet and then circled back toward the west and finally back toward Kerrville.

I do not have the words to paint you a picture of what scenes regaled us along the way( see HW2 for more description). There were so many flowers in huge fields that we stopped and took picture after picture. Our friends Ron and Julie had described one field as looking like a lake until you got closer and realized it was a field of blue bonnets. What a perfect description. Foxy took lots of pictures, and some will get added to this blog. The colors of the flowers varied from yellows to golds, pinks to red, purple to blue. Now we have to learn the names of the flowers we have seen.

Finally we stopped in Bandera, the Cowboy Capital of Texas, for a late barbecue lunch at Busbees. It was good eating, as we had sandwiches of barbecued ham and brisket with cole slaw for a side. The whole thing was washed down with a little something, and then we strolled about the town for a bit before heading home to Kerrville. What a fantastic day, and such a treat to see 1-200 miles of gorgeous wild flowers. Life is beautiful, take time to smell the flowers. Happy travels.

Spring has sprung

Spring is definitely here in the Texas Hill Country. The trees are blooming. Oak trees are furnishing lots of pollen which covers everything and gives you something to sneeze about. A bad pollen count is in the low hundreds and we have be over 40,000 count. Best of all are the wild flowers. This has been one of the best years for flowers in a long time. Supposedly the peach crop is to be good and strawberries are in season as is asparagus (not my favorite).

The grass is growing and keeping us very busy on our 100 acres, all of which needs to get mowed sometimes more than once a week. It has been hard to get to the blog after work and we are currently working four days a week which will not change for the guys but the gals will be cut to three days starting this week. We have returning work campers Susan and Clayton which causes a schedule change.

Tomorrow I have the biopsy and ultra sound done to see if my prostate is cancerous. I will not know for several days but then we shall see. The whole thing is out of my hands. Faith carries the day and the Doctor seems like a good man. I keep you posted. Happy travels.