Saturday, Oct. 12

[Irmi]

Good morning friends!

Beth and Sheila, safe travels!

We are back in Webster! The trip home was just as bad as it was last Tuesday as far as the traffic went. The last 100 miles were stop and go, which made for a long day. When we got home, we worked in the pergola for the first hour. Even though we bungeed everything, the furniture was tossed around. Two dock boxes were slightly damaged. Our TV antenna came down in several pieces. There are several ponds in this resort and for the first time in the 4 years we've been here, we now have water view property! There is a very large pond in the cow pasture behind us, which has not happened in the same 4 years. We have moved into the coach and the generator is on. All the food in our freezers were still frozen, so we really lucked out, all things considered. We saw lots of large trees down, roots and all, and most of them were in the last 50 miles as we were heading home. I need to bring my keyboard, which is in the casita, into the motorhome so I can practice for tomorrow's service. I took the meats out of the freezer for a southern low country boil, which will be dinner. Have a good day!

[PeggyinCT]

Hello Everyone. Irmi, I’m happy that you and Steve managed to stay safe and that there wasn’t great damage to your place.
A Roadtrek buddy of mine who moved to Casselberry FL a few years back happened to be in Philly at the time of the hurricane. She decided there was no rush back to assess the damage, so she is driving north to meet up with us in CT. I thought I was through camping for the season, but no. We’ll have one more gtg at the casino. Then she will face whatever the storm dealt her…. Enjoy your day. Peggy

[Bethers]

Irmi, great news overall. Yes, no damage would be preferred, but you and Steve are safe and the damage wasn't worse. Of course, you have a great attitude, which really helps. Peggy, I hope your friend doesn't find too much when she gets back. Enjoy your last, unexpected, camping trip for this season.

I could be on the road, but decided to throw a load in the washer which is due out momentarily. I've already taken down my clothesline, so I'll be imaginative putting these items inside the Casita to dry. And the washer just beeped, so if off I go. Then a quick vacuum and turn off water and electric and off we'll go. No rush.

[OregonLuvr]

Beth have a safe journey, take your time, no hurry I dont think. Sheila having a good but tiring trip. Irmi glad you made it home and with not too much damage so that is good. It is a nice fall day here was 55 when I got up and outside with Emma. Actually felt good out there. In fact was chilly in the house even tho the temp was 62. I resisted the urge to turn on the heat as I really wasnt too cold but left my sweatshirt on for now.

Need to do some bookwork. Things are piling up in my office again so need to get filing and organizing some of that. Then going to clean out a couple of hall cupboards. I tend to stuff things in there thinking it is a safe place but then I can never find what I thought I put in there.

Done with breakfast so time to get busy, at least for a while. I have lots to eat. I bought a couple of things on Amazon Prime day. I bought a rice cooker/steamer. Never thought I wanted one and that it was just as easy on the stove but I have come to rethink that. Was only $12 so if I dont like it or use it not a huge expenditure. I will cut up my terriyaki chicken later and carmelize it under the broiler and try out my new rice cooker. I love terriyaki chicken bowls. That is what is for dinner. Lunch is some corn on the cob, salad, and sliced tomatoes. Still working on my healthy eating, smaller portions plan. So far so good have lost 4lbs but I find I can gain those back in the blink of an eye. Doesn't mean I will never eat anything really good (= bad for you hah) again. Just trying to limit it. Trying to make things diverse so I dont get burnt out on healthy living foods. I need to have salmon (aka the perfect food) a couple times this week. I did buy some ice cream and the cones to go with it as I eat way less ice cream if I put it in a cone instead of a bowl. Couple times a week should satisfy my craving.

Glad everyone that I know of is safe from Milton and Helene and hoping everyone gets power back soon.

[BarbaraRose]

Good late morning gals!

I have been sleeping good lately which is a good thing! Bed is comfy.

I spent most of yesterday getting my health insurance figured out on their website. Then started looking for doctors. I finally found a clinic close to me and called to make an appointment. They can't get me in until May 29th, 2025!!! I need to find a much less busy clinic! That is 7 months from now!

Then I tracked my Amazon phone, which I thought was going back to Amazon, but it is saying it was delivered...in Phoenix!! So I need to contact Amazon and tell them I do not live in Phoenix and want a full refund!

My roommate finally made room for my food in her pantry yesterday but I still have no place to put my dishes, storage containers, pots and pans, etc. Will have to figure something out so I don't have to keep it all in bins in the kitchen.

I applied for a part-time job at the Sabino Canyon visitors center just down the road from me. They also have a visitors center up in the mountains about an hour from here. I stopped at the one down the road the other day to check it out. It is small but nice. I talked to the girl working there about the job and she loves it there but needs to go from full-time to part-time, so that is probably what the part-time job is for. Pay is decent and the days I would work up on the mountain, I would get paid the hourly pay ($15) for the driving time. So will see if I hear back from them. She took my name down to tell her boss I was there.

I finally got the furniture I ordered (night stand and dresser) so I need to put those together. They have metal frames and soft drawers. Amazon reviews were high and said they are very sturdy. Will be nice to get my clothes put away finally. I also need to get things organized yet in the bathroom, and put on a new shower head since the old one is very corroded. I bought one with the hose on it. I also put the litter box in there now too. I ordered a cute little cat house for Romeow to hide in, in the closet since he hides under stuff in there if he hears noises. So he will have a more comfortable place to hide in there. They seem to be adjusting well now, tho.

Here is a photo of the cat house...kind of looks southwestern like a lot of the homes around here. His own little casita! Hope he likes it!



I think once I find a job I like, I will look for a small place of my own to rent. There are a lot of small casitas out here that people rent out. Will also check out small apartments. I like this area so am hoping I can find something around here. Julie would like me to be closer to them but there isn't much affordable out that way. It is only a half hour drive between us (and a beautiful one at that!) so not a big deal.

I am finally getting phone numbers for my contact list. Still need to get Gloria's number but I now have her daughter's number so I can get it from her. If any of you want to give me your number, send me a PM with it.

Glad there wasn't much damage to your place, Irmi. I have a friend who has a winter place on the coast north of Miami so I need to find out on FB if they got any damage. They are still in MN. Luckily, a lot of snowbirds hadn't come down yet for the season.

OK, I better get up and get some breakfast (strawberry banana smoothie!) and get started on something around here. At least I don't have a looming deadline like I had when moving out of the house. So no big pressure on me to get stuff done, other than me wanting to make it more comfortable for me here.

Have a good day!

[JudyJB]

Karen, one of my favorite treats are these tiny ice cream cones from Trader Joes--8 in a box and just perfect for a taste of ice cream--https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/chocolate-hold-the-cone-mini-ice-cream-cones-057186 I think I'll find a TraderJoe tomorrow and pick up some! Thanks for reminding me of them.

I am all packed up for driving tomorrow to my next stop near Eugene. I love driving along the Columbia River, but not the drive south on the freeway--way too much traffic. I have a doctors appt, an appointment to get my water heater checked and replaced, plus an appt to get brakes checked and possibly replace. It will be a very busy few days, then on to the beach for a few more days.

I was glad to hear that my cousin's house was not damaged, other than a huge tree falling on their property. They are still in Michigan while he gets physical therapy and gets stronger so they can head south. He is still using a walker and recovering from his very serious bout with fungal meningitis--horrible!!

Also, Barbie, I believe you are on disability for your back, right? Any employer should be willing to provide you with reasonable accommodations, which might for you include a stool to sit on occasionally.

[Acadianmom]

I like to buy the mini ice cream cones like nutty buddy. Not sure if that's the brand but they are about 5 inches long. I wasn't paying attention one time and bought a different brand that are only about 3 inches long.

Barbie, Romeow's house is cute. I have 3 cat trees in the house that they seldom use anymore. When Annie and CC were young they would run from one end of the house and up a tree. When they installed the cabinets in my office they left about 8 inches above them. Annie would come flying down the hall, bounce off the back of my office chair and up on top of the cabinets. Annie had seizures when she was a kitten and was on phenobarbital for 6 months. She got over that and we have always called her Dingbat Annie.

Karen, there are recipes you can make in a rice cooker. I use to make crawfish jambalaya in a rice cooker. I have a pound of crawfish in the freezer. I should make it again.

Martha