Rally 2009

[retiredhappy]

OK I've come down with a damn cold. I've been envying Beth and Sparkle being at the rally. Sorry things aren't going well but glad you enjoyed Neil Sedanka. What gadget did you get? Did you guys go to the catwalk? Oh hell - back to sneezing, watering eyes and running nose. Sparkle, take care of your back.

[Gentleladybear]

I am sitting here reading about your rally and all I can think of, is this is another Sparkle fun time. She can have more adventures and come out on top than anyone I have ever met. Beth are you learning from Sparkle?

I know it must be miserable trying to enjoy the Rally, but did have to tease you a bit.

Nan

[Cedar518]

Karen,..sorry to hear about the cold! Try Echinnecea (know I spelled that wrong!) and extra Vitamin C tablets. I just threw off a cold because I started both within the first 12 hours of symptoms. Well, I like to believe that is why I didn't get the full deal....
I don't take them routinely,.... just as needed when coming down with yukky stuff. Good luck!

[sharon]

Yeah, Albuquerque can surprise you with weather, it's my home town, raised there, but that cold is unusual for the area for this time of year. Seems like everyone is getting an extra dose of winter this year. Son in Arkasas already put in part of his garden as per usual this time of year and it froze...he's pretty po'd about it. We've been colder than usual here, but don't suppose you want to hear that it was 90 yesterday? Didn't think so.

Sorry the rally hasn't turned out the way you expected. Seems like as many as they put on they would have enough bus's to keep up. Think I would ask for some money back! Where are you guys camped that you're an hour away? No hook-ups? Did they not have this at the fairgrounds? Beth, don't worry about the seminar about Alaska, just get your milepost at CW and start reading and highlighting. Fuel, GG's and dry camping are abundant there. Didn't see very many places for dry camping in Canada, tho. Most of the rest areas are no overnite camping in Canada, but almost anywhere in Alaska is good.

Sparkle, know this is going to sound crazy, but for your back, put your right ankle on your left knee, pull the ankle toward your waist and push down on the right knee with your elbow. Hold for 1 minute. Repeat with the left ankle. My chiropractor showed me this and it stretches and relaxes the back muscle. Repeat as necessary. It really does help with the pain.

Hope things improve, but from the sound of it that's only going to happen when you leave! Durn it!!

[Cedar518]

put your right ankle on your left knee, pull the ankle toward your waist and push down on the right knee with your elbow. Hold for 1 minute. Repeat with the left ankle. My chiropractor showed me this and it stretches and relaxes the back muscle. Repeat as necessary. It really does help with the pain.

I agree Sharon,.... also there is one where you lay on the floor (or firm surface) on your side and bring upper leg down to touch knee on floor at your waist, apply pressure with your hands and hold for one minute. Repeat on other side. It may be a variation on the same exercise? Works for me.

Hope you are feeling better Sparkle, and getting some of that ole "Sparkle" back!

[sharon]

OK, just read Karen's post on the wolves and your visit with her....thought you were going to the rally first and then to see her...didn't you kind of backtrack? Or maybe not, gotta go north and east...so now I've gotta get the atlas out and see. Darn! So which direction are you going when you leave Albuquerque?? Argghh, I'm soooo lost!

[Getupngo]

Gee ... I was feeling sorry that I wasn't going to make it to The Rally. Sparkle, I'm sorry you've wrenched your back. I know how awful back pain can be. That makes EVERYTHING not fun. Take care of yourself.

Having said that, I laughed when you said, "Can we go home?" and realized you ARE home. When I'm hurt or sick, I want my mommie, and THAT is home.

And this inquiring mind wants to know about the gadget, too. Spill!

[Sparkle]

Today I'm worse than ever! I was almost screaming with pain when Bogie pulled on the leash to visit with another dog. I went to Beth's rig and told her she was on her own for today. I took a strong painkiller AND a muscle relaxer....that was interesting! I will try those tortures..um... excercises Sharon and Cedar recommended. Later.
Gadget...it attaches to your hose so you can fill your water tank and not have to stand there holding the hose. I'll let Beth complete todays post as I am somewhat light headed. I wonder why?

[avalen]

oh nooooooo, everyone is catching my cold and now I've spread my back pain as well.
Sorry to hear everyone is having such a rough time, and here I'm just starting to feel
better. The muscle relaxers, pain pills and the heating pad did me good too, although
now that I'm feeling better and just being careful with my back, plain old aspirin is
doing the trick the best. Sparkle, I certainly hope your back feels better soon and then
you can enjoy the rest of your journey.

[carold]

Sorry to hear about all your woes and aggravations. I'll commiserate with you while chugging around Barcelona. DH's plantar facilitis was bad enough that we bought tickets for those on and off tour buses instead of our normal walking around for 8 hours. One more day here and then on to Madrid to spend the night and catch the plane back to Tampa. DH has posted some great pics on his blog, so, since time is short on the computer, his will have to do for now. Hope all get's better for everyone who's not feeling well. Hasta la vista babies. carold

[Nasoosie]

Sparkle....are you sure your back injury is a muscle-pull type? If so, it WILL heal, if given time and bedrest and muscle relaxers. Are you sure it's not a vertebrae thing? Or a ruptured disc thing? If you ruptured a disc, or dislocated some vertebrae, that could be another whole thing altogether. If you have medical insurance, you maybe ought to check with a doc so he can do an X-ray, or whatever they do now to look at backs. Back pain is nothing to mess around with. You should not still be having excruciating pain after a couple of days, unless you are constantly aggravating it. Perhaps you should just tie Bogie outside the door and hitch him to your steps until you are able to walk him.

So sorry to hear this news, as you are ordinarilly a very active woman.

So glad to hear that Ava's pains and cold are better. And my cold is getting better every hour, too.

Molly said to tell Bogie to slow down until you get better!!

[sharon]

So sorry Sweetie that your back is worse...that's what happens with a back, get's worse before it gets better. That torture will help if it's a pulled muscle or if you put your back out. It'll help relax the muscle and actually put your back back into place. Also, and I know with the weather there you really, really don't want to hear this, but ice is better than heat, but if you do use heat, make sure it's moist heat or it'll make it worse. Best heating pad you can use is to put rice in a small cloth bag and heat it in the microwave for 2 or 3 minutes. Nice moist heat. Stinks tho. Did I ever tell you about the time I got stuck in the bathtub for 4 hours? Thought I would soak my poor backy, DH went to the neighbors "for just a minute", got to drinking beer with him, forgot about me and there I sat, unable to crawl out. Needless to say, he was pretty much in the doghouse for a while, and I was under strict orders no more bath unless he was sitting in the next room.

[Sparkle]

I get this periodically. But haven't had ity since I started fulltiming. It's the disk gets pinched and this morning it was pressing on my Sciatic Nerve and my left leg was very painful. I tried Sharons exercise and must say it seemed to help. I can't do the floor one because I'm sleeping on the sofa bed and with it open I have limited floor space. But I'll keep that one in mind. The sofa bed is because of Bogie. He can't get into my bed without help and would have cried all night. He can get in the sofa bed, so at the time it seemed the best solution. I caused this because I tried to heave his 80lb body into the rig.
Beth just came in and told me about her day.

[Liz]

I raided my suicide stash.

I just hope things aren't THAT bad! Remember, tomorrow is another day...don't miss it!

[Bethers]

While we might be bellyaching - there have been good things here as well. And, yes, they are organized - I attended their rally last year and came back because of how good it was. Unfortunately, they misguessed how many buses they needed and a few other misnomers - but today, for me, was pretty good. We're not going to see Rita Cooledge tonight - neither of us cared (sorry all you Rita fans) - but we're heading over for the balloon moonglow that is going to happen after - and tomorrow morning is our next chance at our own balloon ride. Temps better today - although still going to be cold overnight - and it's that cold that was getting to me. Cold and back for Sparkle.

They had shelter dogs at the grounds today. OMG, I almost brought another dog home. They did take my pic with here - so it might show up someplace. I'll have to watch their website and see if it makes it into the pics of the events I looked like crap - but who cares

Okies, got to run - but wanted to update. Oh, found a new rig I love. But ran before they could start talking prices with me. Ha

And, Sharon, milepost is good, but I prefer Terry and Mike Church's book - and milepost doesn't answer some of the questions I have - but they - and another man, have been able to cover those for me. I'll be traveling with the 3 books, Milepost, Terry and Mike Church's and this other gents. All useful