"How's Connie?"

I get that a lot.  How do I answer that?  That's a tough one.  Connie always used a stock answer of "hanging in there", and I guess that's an accurate depiction of her current state.

She's still a roller coaster, although the good days aren't as good.  To give you an example, a few days ago she said she thinks she's going to make it to her birthday (March 1st), but all bets are off after that.  Then, yesterday, she's asking the nurse about 'graduating' from hospice.  That's the roller coaster.  It's the end of the 2nd month of hospice care and we've already had a few "this is the beginning of the end" moments, and just as many "she's going to be here through next Christmas".

Most days are Groundhog Day.  Nothing on the schedule other than which nurse is coming.  She's awake around 7 - 7:30.  Has a small breakfast, a 'boost' protein drink, and some bites for dinner.  She rotates between sitting up in bed and laying down.  When she's sitting up, she watches the park out her window, listens to either the radio or what's on the TV in the living room.

We've just recently starting trying again to get her to sit on the edge of the bed, even stand while being propped up.  I hope that type of progress continues.  It's baby steps, and she's exhausted after that short 'workout'.  She wants to at least get out of the bedroom.  Get out of diapers.  Sit out in the living room.  Some days I think that's going to happen in the next few days.  Some days, I think that's never happening.

However, the shooting pain headaches have returned.  The short term memory is concerning.  Some days she's really focused, other days she just wants to sleep. 

Roller Coaster.

It was either the tests or laughing too hard....

Just had a memorable weekend.

On Thursday, Connie got X-rays on the hole in her lung (pneumo thorax) then Friday met with the Pulmonary Doctor.  We both thought it was odd that she did a breathing test, where you exhale as hard as you can, inhale large, then exhale hard again.  She probably did that 5-6 repetitions.

Doctor said she still had a small hole, but we wouldn't need to see him for a month unless she started having pains at which point we were to call 9-1-1 immediately.  Disappointed that the lung wasn't fully healed, but with him saying see you in a month, we could tell his lack of concern.

We went over to our friends Don and April in Russell Township (Geauga Co.) for dinner and a sleepover before going to head to Bethany and James' house for her birthday celebration on Saturday.  We've known the Green's for 30 years, Don was the head football coach where I got my first Band Director job in Jamestown, Ohio.  Been friends ever since.

After a few beverages, we started going over stories, remembering this, remembering that, correcting each other on what we all thought were the facts.  We did a lot of laughing.

About 4a the next morning, Connie sat up and said she was having some pains, but she was going to try and sleep a different way.  About 6:30a, the pain was still there and off we headed for Hillcrest hospital.  Did all the tests, X-Rays, Cat Scans, etc. and, though the hole was still there, it wasn't any different from the scans on Thursday.  After ruling everything out, and the pain subsiding, they released her from the E.R.  She was allowed to go to Bethany's as long as she didn't do anything.

We went back to Don and April's (who were watching the girls along with their 3 cockers), gathered up everything, and headed to Fairview Park (OH) where Bethany and James live.  Had another great time there, Connie's Dad and his friend surprised Bethany by driving up from Wilmington (OH).

We met lots of Bethany and James' friends and co-workers, even reconnected with one of Bethany's childhood friends from Ashtabula.  Carmen and Sloopy even met some new friends.  The morning took its toll and we retired earlier than others.

Sunday (Father's Day), Bethany and James took his Dad and I to Springvale Golf Course for 18 holes of fun and laughter while Connie and James' Mom stayed back at their house.  Perfect weather, great fun, and a nice course.  I really enjoyed it.

After another terrific dinner, we gathered up our stuff and the girls and headed back home to Ashtabula.  A memorable weekend in our rear view mirror.

One week and 1618 miles: miles 0 - 487

We left Sunday (mile 0) at 10a and headed to our hometown of Wilmington (OH).

When we stopped for fuel (mile 102), we saw a dually from South Dakota also fueling.  "You're not from South Dakota, either, are you?", I asked.  "Nope.  We're full time RV'ers."  The club is large.

While I was a senior (and Connie was a sophomore), our high school had a Rotary Exchange student from Australia named Rob McKerras.  He and his two children were going to be back in town to visit, so Connie and I headed there to meet him and some other old friends (mile 256) that were having a picnic for him at J.W. Denver Williams, Jr. Memorial Park.

Bye, Bye Birdie from
my senior year in high school

Rob was 'Conrad Birdie' in Bye, Bye, Birdie that year.  Was supposed to have been "my role", but he moved in and was really terrific.  That's Rob in the foreground, me in the back in a choir robe.

Had a great time, saw some people we hadn't seen in almost 35 years.  Lots of catching up.

The Murphy Theater

We stayed the night at Connie's parents who still live in Wilmington (different bed #1 of the week).  Monday, I went downtown for some nostalgia and to put out some munzees.  It was a treat to be given a tour of the Murphy Theatre.  Hadn't been in there for quite a few years.  Great video about her here.  Monday was also Connie's Mom's birthday and we celebrated by taking her out to Bob Evans.

Tuesday, we had decided to hook up her parents car to their car caddy and drag it to Cleveland and our daughter's house.  They were going to dog sit our girls and Bethany's dog while we were off to Baltimore.

We had all kinds of problems that could have been alleviated if I'd have worked at it Monday.  Oz (Connie's dad) had a different light adapter than we thought, and we couldn't find the light bar for the tow vehicle.  His RV is out for repairs, so we had to make a couple of trips out there.  Alas, it was buried in his shed.  We hooked it up, realized he was missing a couple of pins also.  So, off we went to Tractor Supply.

We worked on the lights while Connie and her mother (Dorothy) ate in Arby's.  It was a lost cause.  Too many problems, bad wires/connections.  After about two hours of messing around, we decided to just run the flashers and get on the road.

We arrived at Bethany's house (mile 487) around 5p on Tuesday, had some pizza and settled in for the night (different bed #2).

Our first RV Rally...

One of the things that intrigued us about the Heartland Owner's Group was their "Rallies".  Seemed like what everyone talked about.  One of the things we truly missed about boating was doing the "summer circuit" and going to Club X, Y, and Z for their Rendezvous, Steak Fry's, etc. , then having them come to our Club for weekend events.  The Heartland Owner's club looks like they're going to fill this void for us.

We were a little taken back at our arrival at the Elkhart Co. Fairgrounds in Goshen, Indiana, by the scope of this thing.  248 units spread all over the place like manure at the ..... well, you know that line.  And they have the ability for 900 hook ups!!!



Tuesday was pretty much a set up morning, then getting a feel for the schedule and meeting the neighbors.  We were incredibly lucky (or fortunate) to pull the spot we did.  We were with all the "poobahs" of the place (Presidents, State Chapter Leaders, District Leaders, etc).


I played golf on Wednesday, while Connie did some seminars on Wednesday, which was a pretty free day.

Wednesday, we had a "dessert potluck" followed by a real potluck on Thursday and a couple of catered dinners on Friday and Saturday.  Great time to meet some of the other Heartlanders from all over the country, plus some of the great friends we had met in Texas and elsewhere.

Saturday, was a highlight as we went to the Heartland Factory to see BigHorns actually in production.  It was fascinating.

Basically the frame comes in one large door, goes back two stations, then moves sideways about 20 stations before it goes forward and leaves the plans as a finished coach.  I've included tons of pictures below:

Connie did a great job all week of "pacing herself", some afternoon naps, limited her walking.  She really enjoyed herself and we're both so glad we could go and experience the event.  We got home around dinner time on Sunday night and found an early excuse to go to bed.  We also were really lucky that we won two door prizes, a thermal bag and a tire pressure monitor for the rig that sits in the truck.

Today, we power washed the rig -- it was filthy from 10 days on the road -- and did all the laundry.  Tomorrow, Connie has a scheduled treatment which is a perfect time for me to clean the inside.

Weekend with Fred and Vickie...

Our friends Fred and Vickie came down from Dallas on Thursday. They didn't bring their MotorHome to our park, rather they stayed in the "not a hotel" Days Inn.

We had beef BBQ waiting for them when they got in.  They stayed a little while, but everyone was tired and we called it an early night.

Friday, Connie's 50th birthday, she got fitted for her Cyber Knife mask in Corpus Christi.  This is just basically a mesh hard mask to keep her head still and enable the Doctor to be consistent with the radiation lasers.  We came back to Rockport, met with Fred and Vickie and went to the ChartRoom for dinner.  That turned out to be just a beer.  It was a beautiful view, but too cool for everyone.

Off we went to Hemingway's in Rockport.  There was some babe setting up for karaoke and a few tables in the bar and NO ONE in the main dining room.  Food was decent, a little overpriced for the portions.  Karaoke babe kicked up about half way through the meal and ambience went right to hell.  I couldn't eat fast enough to get out of there.

We asked our waitress where a good place to go with live music would be.  You know, for people your age (she was low 20's).  Her response:  "People my age are an endangered species in Rockport."  Very funny.  But true.

She told us about the Sugar Shack which she thought was going to have a live band on Friday nights.  What a great dive.  Age range was 20 to 75.  RV'ers, locals, fisherman.  Very diverse.  Connie was wearing out, so it was one beer and done.  Didn't get to hear the band, but we'll try it again someday.

Saturday was Belt Sander Races at the Pickled Pelican.  What a hoot.  Played a little (free) shuffleboard after the hotly contested races (J.D. Greene won the modified and we saw a track record), then picked up a couple of Little Caesar's for dinner at the rig.  Connie retired early, while Fred, Vickie and I played a hotly contested game of 3 handed hearts.  My ribs hurt from laughing so much.

Sunday, I paid for the over indulgence and felt bad for my friend Fred (who felt as badly as I did) but had to drive back to Dallas.  I think Connie was more active than I was today.

It was a great diversion from what had been going on and we're both thankful for such great friends.

You're going to be released shortly....

We were hoping Tuesday would be Connie's release day.  I purposely came a little later, so if we had to go late, the dogs would be OK.

At around 3p, the nurse came in and said he had orders for the release which would be done shortly.

"Shortly" was almost 3 hours later, but she was on her way home.  Not much else happened, we were still waiting on test results and no one was talking.

Wednesday, we started scheduling appointments, the first of which would be Monday to discuss results with Dr. Aponte.

Our friends, Fred and Vickie, wanted to come down Thursday to celebrate Connie's birthday, so we were going to have company!

Another trip around the sun......

Today's ends Bob's 51st trip around the sun.  ALWAYS get the "you're so young" phrase whenever we're out amongst snow birds and full timers.  If we don't get that phrase, there's "the look" wondering "OK, how are they doing this?"  Funny.

Photo from Michael & Kelly Barnett, http://http://rvthereyetchronicles.com/

Spent a great morning Monday meeting with the Heartland Owners Group of the Coastal Bend.  Great group of folks.  Found out two of them, Michael & Kelly Barnett will be traveling to the Sweetheart Rally in Kerrville, TX next February.  Will be nice to see familiar faces there.

We seldom eat out on our own, but this group eats out twice a week.  The Bakery Cafe was the site Monday.  Connie's biscuits and gravy were very good, Bob's ham and cheese omelet was huge.  Great brunch. 

Speaking of familiar, we're both Mac people.  Bob's had a Mac since they came out in 1983.  We finally made the decision to abandon our AppleWorks and upgrade our system to the new OSX.  We both hate, I mean HATE, software changes.  Spent the last few days migrating everything over to Microsoft Word and Excel, checking on all the software that will have to be updated to keep up with the new OSX.  <sigh>  Once we get that going, the tax season will be upon us.

While all this is going on, the business has been incredibly busy!  (Thank you!)  New Disney and cruise bookings have tested out the new Word/Excel system quite nicely (except for the time something happened and all the booking numbers got assigned to the wrong clients.)  Will be dropping the hammer today or tomorrow and downloading the new operating system. 

Sunday reminded us of one of those days we fondly remember back in Ohio.  Mid to late February and all of a sudden a mid 50's day pops out of nowhere and EVERYONE is outside washing cars, walking, etc.  After the (for here) miserable days last week, we saw more people in the park out than since we arrived.  Now, we're looking at thunderstorms for a few days, a few nice days, then back to the 50's to start our rise again.

Last night ended another College Football season.  It all goes too fast (just like Alabama's players vs. the Domers).  We'll humor ourselves with college basketball, pro golf, then the new baseball season.  But it's just a ruse because we're waiting for next August to get here.

Mini Vacation with Family

We didn't waste much time after getting set up in Sycamore, IL.  After arriving on July 5, we took the dogs to the Bed and Biscuit for their vacation the next day.  Then, it was time for us to start packing for our quick weekend trip to our hometown - Wilmington, OH.

It was Connie's Mom's 80th birthday and we had planned a surprise party for her complete with a surprise visit from us and our daughter and son-in-law.  Since the dogs could not make the trip, Dad decided to have them put on the cake.

She was surprised and it was great to visit with family and friends.  Quick trip, but was fun.

The next day, we headed to the airport for our flight back to Chicago.  Bonus was that our daughter took some time off to join us for a couple of days.  She doesn't do the flying thing very well.  And, since we were only flying from Columbus to Chicago, we were on a very small plane.  She wasn't too crazy about that.  As you can see, we got a chuckle out of it.

Her time with us was also going to be short.  Once we landed (after an hour plus delay), we made our way right to Millennium Park.  There is so much to do in Chicago.  This area is a must see!  We only hit a tip of the park.  We had to get pictures of the Bean.

Of course, all that traveling made us hungry.  We went in search of a Chicago style pizza.  Just around the corner from the park, we found Giordano's Chicago Famous Stuffed Pizza.  The pizzas look just like the photos on the website.  They are delicious and very filling.

It was getting late, so we boarded the CTA Blue Line back to our truck to head home.

Tuesday was spent just relaxing and watching the All-Star Game.

Bethany had a late flight on Wednesday, so we headed back to town for some more sightseeing.  The Navy Pier was on our agenda this time.  The weather was perfect.  We wandered around a bit before having an early dinner at  Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Bar & Grill.

 Then, it was off to the airport to send her back to Ohio.  Again, time was short, but was so enjoyable.

"My kind of town, ...Chicago is..."

Looking forward to the next couple of months here.