Silver Sisters Online Rally

[BrockLives]

So much news here since my last stop!

Carol & Sharon, got you & your families in my thoughts. GRATS Laura! I feel like I say that every time I see you now!

My little AS is parked for the winter, but the renovations aren't stopping. Right now she's basically a half-plumbed aluminum tent! We're working on the electrical right now & it's really scary because I am not making the easily changeable decisions about layout anymore!

I still might snuggle up in a sleeping bag on the AS floor before it gets too cold, I've got that separation anxiety going

[05ModPod]

Kudos Laura!!! Your are welcome.

Thanks Brock - we are moving a bit more positively forward these days... Mom had a fall on Saturday from her dialysis chair to her wheel chair there was only one nurse!!! they are supposed to have two until she is completely steady on her feet and strong enough to be consistent. Now she is worried that they will not release her but we are reassuring her. It was just a little trip literally to her butt - we all fall at one point or another. But it shook her up pretty good. She is having a tough time with her right side. We think it may be either nerve damage from the spinal block or could even be a series of mini strokes, egads what else to worry about eh?.....Bodies are a marvel but then a huge worry at the same time.

Stay fit and healthy all - take care of yourselves and your loved ones!!!!!!

Just sharing....for anyone who has to get through some "stuff" life throws at ya!!...

Idioms Amuck - click on link for song and lyrics.

.... the last bit of colour,

before our place is painted in a blanket of white....

[Pudentane]

Hi all,

I have been out of commission for a couple of weeks, first with a recurring intestinal problem which got solved for now and then just to make life interesting I fell backwards down a long flight of stairs and tore up my right knee and ankle! Nothing broken and it's getting better - so it's no big deal - just inconvenient.

I have been reading all the posts and empathizing with those of you coping with parents and others medical situations - been there and it's never fun or easy - best to you all.

I have especially enjoyed everyones photos and had a great time checking out Nancy R's picasa pages. It was so nice to see photos of places like Canyon De Chelly which gave some sense of scope as often all you see are a close up of the ruins. Thanks for making them available Nancy!

The Silver Schooner is about to be winterized so camping for this year is over - but she's right outside my kitchen door so I can see her and dream about next summer.

Cheers to all,

[05ModPod]

Wow Louisa - glad to hear that you are feeling better. Intestinal stuff is not very much fun at all.

Now you take really good care of your knee and ankle - make sure you keep up with the therapy and if you are not doing any and still at the rest and elevation stage then when it does come time - don't mess with it - it is the most important stage for full recovery especially at our ages, to avoid future recurring problems....

Good luck with your winterizing - are you getting a dealer to do it or are you doing it yourself?

I asked Steph what I should do (Peter too busy with other things) and she gave me a great step by step. - (Thanks Steph - all set now for the blizzards! Yikes)

I have been really bad - I thoroughly enjoyed Nancy's galleries and completely forgot to mention it - thanks for reminding me.....

Nancy did you hear that - and your daughter has such a talent as well. I am now in between which style I like the best - close ups or wide angle.

I guess not having the vast expanse before me here I have always found close ups more intriguing but since our holidays and seeing such vastness in the fields and oceans and the amazing skies I can really see the attraction to "widescape photography"

I have been remise in updating my own PBase Galleries and must make an effort to select from the 1000's I have taken this summer and fall from our impromptu purchase the ModPod...

Take care of yourself Louisa - are you dressing up your Jasper for Halloween - like in a white sheet

Not sure if the girls will let me dress them up again this year and make them look like silly shetland ponies and punkrockers But might do for a good laugh - and I sure could use a lot more laughter in my life right now....eh Lou - Loved your laughter e-mail of a while back...

Hey any ideas on where we could take our "virtual online rally".....we did not travel much last year - and the beauty is that we can travel anywhere in the world from right here.....

How about loading up our airstreams on the Cunard Line express ship and caravanning around Europe....anyone have stories of their travels overseas???

[loudruff]

Sharon, know what you are going through with your mom. My mom is back in rehab too. Skilled nursing is keeping her safe enough, but she is still not mobile and too stubborn to stay in the chair. She goes to therapy for an hour a day, plus a little speech therapy to keep the cognition going. I go every day to spend time as the "cheerleader" to all of the elders who are in the rehab room when we get there. Some of them are all alone with no family to cheer them on. That takes up most of my morning. Sorry to hear that you have had to move on and give up on the lot on the lake. That bunch of saps that is stopping you should be dumped in the lake! It is too sad to see that dream home for your folks going away. But you need to march on and do what you need to do for you and Peter too.
Larry and I are going to try to do a little more camping if the weather will cooperated. Larry says salt is a no no, so we will stop when the salt flies onto the roads.
That bread pudding looks great! I am coming with a big crockpot full of broccoli/cheese soup. That will be yummy with some bagel chips! Maybe that will chase the rainy cold day a little.

[maxandgeorgia]

Hello, sisters! It's been awhile since I've visited here, and as always, so much goes on in our lives. Carol and Sharon, best wishes with all the health concerns you and your families are dealing with. Carol, I can imagine the scary time you had with Brad and the embolisms...so stressy. I'm glad to hear he's home and active. Just try not to hover...that drives them crazy!! Sharon, you've had such a hard time. What a blessing that you have Peter to support you and share the tough times. It sounds as if your mother has chosen to undertake the HD--I'll have her in my prayers. And to get such a report from the committee on your house plans...%#^#^&%$! Somehow, I believe a place will appear that has your parents' names just splashed all over it--I hope so anyway, but it's sad to see the dream you had fade because of someone's nasty self-concerns For our own issues, our son Stephen who lives with us, has pretty severe disabilities from a lifetime of diabetes, found when he was only four years old...his kidneys are near failure so we (he, Max, and I) are going through some educational appointments with our local Dialysis Center to learn what is ahead if and when he goes into this and also some appointments with our university Transplant Center, considering kidney transplants. He's lived for years with slowly worsening kidney issues and this summer they suddenly tanked. He may have as much as a year or 18 months before doing one or the other, but we're adjusting to the ideas and looking into living donor possibilities with his brother and sisters. Thanks in advance for I know the kind of well wishes and support this group produces Now, enough of all that serious stuff! Brrrrr is right! We were at 27 degrees and heavy frost everywhere this am. Just yesterday I picked a surprise purple iris that bloomed in our garden...I laughed when I saw it and remembered the words...rage, rage at the dying of the light We pitched a lot of fireword on our campfires this past weekend at Bennett Springs SP and fished for trout, not catching a one because they all had their minds set on spawning instead of eating! Who could blame them. Stay warm, stay safe and well, and thanks for that bread pudding, Sharon! I never thought of adding cocktail to mine, but I do use lots of apple and cinnamon and nutmeg. Yum! This slide into the Arctic will have us all returning to bad weather baking! ~G

[maxandgeorgia]

Nancy, your photos and those of your daughter are gorgeous. One of my favorites of hers: a tiny dragonfly caught pausing for just a moment amid the spring green grasses...took my breath away! Thanks for sharing all ~G There is so much to catch up on with all you talented ladies. Laura, you've jumped right into officerhood~wow! With your ideas and youth, you're just what the BIG CLUB needs. Go for it, girl, as we know you will! ~G

[airedale]

Thanks Georgia, Ill try to keep things going in the unit!

[Pudentane]

Thanks Sharon,

I'm recovering well - if more slowly than I'd like - but that's nothing new - but I am being good and taking care of myself! And of course there's nothing like Irish Whiskey for pain - !

Winterizing: I'm doing it myself - I expect this weekend. I got really good instructions on some fine points from the service manager at the dealer - and the owner's manual has decent instructions and I know where the shut offs are to bypass the water heater when I get it drained - I figure it's not rocket science - If I can tow it I can winterize it.

Here's a tip I got from the dealer - get a 3' or 4' piece of clear plastic tubing (they sell it by the foot for a few cents at almost any hardware store) that will slide into the water heater drain hole. Push it in all the way in so it hits the bottom of the water heater and blow in it. If you can hear bubbles you've got water in there (after you think it's all drained out). Then just suck on the hose to siphon out what's in the bottom of the water heater - he said he usually gets up to another gallon that way that won't run out of it's own accord after you've taken the plug out. You won't have any residual water in the water heater to get all crummy and next season have your hot water smell funny and you won't know why (happened to a friend of mine).

Nope, Jasper won't wear a costume for Halloween - he's very particular about just wanting to be a dog - no human stuff pleeeeze- and usually wrecks his Christmas Bow within five minutes or less. But of course he loves the queen size bed in the Silver Schooner - I only have a double in the house - so he's selective in what kind of human stuff he will partake of!

[wheel interested]

Louisa what an ordeal, slipping backwards on the stairs, lucky you are agile and not brittle and that you are on the mend. Brad wants me to winterize too so I will be giving that a shot again. I have before but forget over the season just how many valves are involved. I might make myself a cheat sheet this time, (I say that every time...) Thanks for sharing the water heater tip, that's a new and useful one.

G. you are in our thoughts and we are hoping Stephen finds a suitable donor very soon. Baking sounds like a great mood elevator. Nothing like something freshly baked to warm a person up and give comfort. Tis that season once again unfortunately. Tonight will be the coldest night so far, the low 20s.

So Brock if you are lying on that floor zip up tight or visit the AS during the warmer part of the day I think.

Lou I bet you are the best cheerleader they have seen and lucky to have you to cheer them.

Sharon hope things are faring better with health issues of the family and your plans being changed. The only thing good about your change in plans is NOT having the miserable doctor as a neighbor.

I like the idea of a virtual trip, I am packing as we speak. I am only packing warm clothes and nail polish for my toes that will look perfect against white sandy beaches. As soon as I finish Lou's soup I will pack my movie magazines and bon bons. Who all is going? I am looking forward to this. And where are we going and by what transit?

[maxandgeorgia]

We'll all need those little toe thongs to set off the nail polish against the white sands. Let's see how big a flock of pink flamingos we can set up to ring around the campfire. I say let's head for the Keys...Key West that is...sunsets...hamburgers in paradise...margaritas...Take me awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! ~G (Isn't escape a fair solution to stress and cold?)

[wheel interested]

Ahhh that sounds perfect! I have a new hat and a few accessories...I suspect if I need a snack or if any of you gals get hungry in transit I may be able to spare a piece of fruit to the effort.

[05ModPod]

Originally Posted by maxandgeorgia

I say let's head for the Keys...Key West that is...sunsets...hamburgers in paradise...margaritas...Take me awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! ~G (Isn't escape a fair solution to stress and cold?)

Hey sounds wonderful - and then when we are tired of there...we can maybe catch one of the World Cruises put on by Cunard Lines. And of course since we are in cyber world - Money is NO object right?

So how about the we, say, hop on the Queen Victoria, reserve the Queens Grill suite at a mere $72,737 and 91 cents to be exact for a 25+ day cruise around the world....

http://book.cunard.co.uk/images/book/qv_q_diagram.jpg
Now that is a suite - actually it is the size of the house we almost built .

Wait small change in plans after checking the Itinerary - to catch that cruise we would have to move our Rally from Key West on over to the Silver Sisters in California and hop on at Los Angeles - sure they would not mind in jumping in on the cruise either.

The lines have an amazing spa and recreation facilities - hey whatever happened to the spa Rally!! Where did that lady who wanted to run one go??? you lurking girl? I really must add that to my list of things to do before I die (might be a bit young to start the "bucket list") Louise the spa would be a perfect rehab for that knee of yours Jasper - funny a sophisticated Human Dog.

With halloween coming I ran out and got my costume all set for the Trip to Key West and gave a try on tonight ~G - so tell me how do I look?


BE HONEST! I can take it.

Carol perhaps I can get you to do my nails?

~G - Sorry to hear Stephen is progressing with the disease. It must be a terrible worry for you at times. It is not an easy disease to live with - especially when sometimes it can be so unawares to people.

There is always the worry of a sudden crisis. Peter had a crisis last night - his brand new pump failed! and we had to get a new one couriered out. His sugars were rising fast and we had to do a make shift back up plan (with using a spent cartridge out of one of his old pen needles in order for him to receive insulin) - or the alternative was going to be rushing him to the Hospital. I did not realize he had no Humalogue pen cartridges for back up so he got a mouth full on that one - ARRRGGG he is so bad sometimes - must be a Man thing! Anyway his emergency new pump arrived at Midnight and all is well today....Sugars back to acceptable ranges - but as he ages these incidents take a real big toll on his general health.

PS Carol thanks for asking - I feel GREAT! How about you? and Brad recovering nicely and behaving himself?

Steph you around - or visiting your Mom now? Hope she is well now that she is home from the Hospital. Was thinking of you today - in that it is time I took the Kayak Racks off the roof before they are permanently frozen there for the winter.

[maxandgeorgia]

Sharon, truly, I don't think you could like an honest answer...though...looking closely...well,...your mug, your legs, your...you might do well in Key West! At least KW may never be the same after we rally there! Glad to hear the scaries for Peter have past on by. I think if Steve would have been willing to use the pump, he might have put off his current health problems by at least a few years. None of us, parents or docs, can get to the bottom of why he has refused the pump adamantly. Hmmm, these guys of ours sure keep us on our toes. ~G

[05ModPod]

Well I was thinking of bringing a packet of razors with me

Yes it is a bit strange. Does Steve have some sort of Mentor he could talk to - Or even possibly a Pumper in the area? Sometimes they listen to those who are users much better than everyone else who can never really quite understand what their issues are. Face it we that do not have the disease will never fully understand those who do have it and what they are living with every day.

Peter still says that with the pump it is a 24/7 reminder that he has the disease and that is something he could at least forget about in between needles. Maybe small to us but when you are in for life with it it must be huge to them. - Just a thought anyway... There is a great book too called Pumpers something or another if interested I will look it up for you?

[tin sista]

I was just gazing at the Stanley cup mesmerized by the reflection and wondering wow how are the silver sisters. I still haven't taken those pennants down Carol, those go on the feet Georgia? As we say up here, Holy Toledo!!

[wheel interested]

I think it's official. Baking season is here. Time for comfort food, family get-togethers and cocooning round the fire inside.

Who's going where, who's cooking, who's eating?

We'll be off to Illinois to share Thanksgiving with our kids. While we chat and catch up, how about a nice slice of cheesecake and some fresh hot coffee girls?

How about some family photos? It's getting dark here far too early. What better way to spend a leisurely afternoon or evening?

Of course if someone just had a hot date or found a brand new nail polish that would of course trump all the above.

So where is everybody???? C'mon over.

[airedale]

I hate winter

[eikel1we]

HI! We're having leftovers ..... meatloaf. Does that count?? Still away from home. It's been a month today, with only last Sat. afternoon until Mon. afternoon at LG. cLEANED THE YARD, TOOK OUT THE DOCK & THE WINDOW a/c . bOTH GIRLS & S-I-L WERE THERE TO HELP - in fact, we ruined their surprise of doing the chores. (sorry about the caps) Ike's mom has made some progress forward but is very fragile and sick. I', hoping for the best but it sure is hard to see her like this.
I think of you all often but have the net only at the hospital and it's really hard to keep up.

Take care and be sure to get those longies out - snow flurries may be on the way!!
sue

[loudruff]

Larry and I are stuck in LaG for Thanksgiving I guess. We thought maybe the weather would cooperated just a little longer so that we might be able to fit in another camp, but it looks like snow is on the way....ICK!!!! Time to winterize! It looks like I will have to cook at home! My mom is having lots of ups and downs...fell again because she does not want to wait for help to get to the potty. Old habits are hard to break, I guess. Those of you with aging parents are indeed in my thoughts and prayers. It is so hard to see them at this stage of their lives.
Lou