Jul 17, 2012 - Leave Tomorrow on my Olympics Trip!

It's really going to happen! I have planned for months, making my reservations in London in December and reserving hostels, B&Bs, and activities ever since. Here is a brief outline of our trip. Katherine joins me in Stockholm and leaves to get back for fall semester classes from Amsterdam. July 18 - Copenhagen July 22 - Stockholm July 26 -Fly to Dublin; rent car and startroad-triptrip to Glendaough and Wexford July 27 - Waterford July 28 - Rock of Cashel and Blarney Castle in Cork July 29 - Killarney National Park and Dingle Peninsula July...

Jul 6, 2012 - A Brief Brush with Home

I drove from Palo Duro Canyon State Park to Lake Lavon in Wylie on Sunday, July 1st. I finished my month’s tour of duty at PDSP and now I am going to focus on getting ready for my trip to Europe. While I was in my home area, I went to three doctors’ appointments, got my hair cut, ate lunch and dinner with several friends, got my trailer worked on and celebrated the Fourth of July with friends in Grapevine. I had a terrific time visiting with my friends from home. I am always so busy when I come into the area that I hardly have time to turn...

Jun 26, 2012 - My Farewell - Appreciation Luncheon

My last day off while I am at Palo Duro Canyon State Park My last day off and I'm torn between going back into Amarillo after my appreciation lunch or beginning to get things ready to go home and working on my Europe trip details. Responsibility won out and I was busy most of the day. At lunchtime, Shirley and I went up to the Park Headquarters for lunch. Everyone came in for a nice deli-sandwich lunch and cake. Afterwards, my review was held, something not done in the other parks. I was also given an opportunity to provide feedback....

Apr 16, 2012 - A Visit to Costco

Got up with 'calling the insurance company' at the top of my list of things to do. I don't know why I haven't gotten the check to pay for my trailer. Explorer USA finally got the roof finished and I agreed to take it with some of the warranty work incomplete so I could get to my next volunteer assignment. But, instead of getting the trailer late on Friday afternoon and leaving on Sunday, I couldn't pick up the trailer since I haven't gotten to money to pay for the repairs. My insurance office called and the check was sent out on either...

Apr 15, 2012 - Celebrating 60 Years!

Today we are celebrating my friend Debbie's 60th birthday. I am helping get Frito and Diane's house ready for a party - helping with the food prep and tidying up. In addition to throwing a party, Frito and Diane and welcoming two more overnight visitors, Barb and Barb (who also goes by Blondie). Washing, last minute grocery shopping, making dip, Ranch dressing, snacks and making ready Debbie's surprises made for a very busy day. All of our prep work was well worth it; Debbie enjoyed every minute of her party. We ordered pizza for all....

Apr 12, 2012 - The Rangers Win!

Have a great day planned - going to the Ranger afternoon game with Lee. I needed to get a new battery for my phone; it isn't charging. I went to the Batteries Plus store in Firewheel. Come to find out, they don't work on i-Phones since the Apple company has told them that opening an i-Phone will invalidate the warranty and any battery bought anywhere other than AT&T or Apple will not work for very long. So, I decided to go on to AT&T to get my phone checked out. I began trying to call Lee about 9:00 and coudln't get an answer. I needed to...

Apr 8, 2012 - Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! What a glorious reason for celebration! I got up, a little later than I had planned, and quickly got dressed. I went to Easter service at White Rock Community Church. They had a fabulous service. Some of their members had created a huge “rock” tomb that had a glow emitting from the doorway – what a creative genius! It was phenomenal! The choir, now up to 19 members, sounded great. Douglas did a great job of preaching. I was glad to be a part of the service. After service, the children participated in the annual Easter egg...

Apr 2, 2012 - Back to Back Things to Do

I always have so many things to get done while I am in the Garland area. I have a 10:30 doctor’s appointment. I wanted to get my swim in before I went to the doctor. So, once again, I got up early and got to L A Fitness for a swim session. I went to my rheumatologist, Dr. Fleischmann. I was hoping that he was going to give me a prescription for prednisone to help relieve my pinched spinal nerve. My arthritis has not given me much of a problem. It seems to be pretty well maintained with medication. It is my pinched nerve and resulting right...

Apr 1, 2012 - Palm Sunday

April Fools’ Day! Today I have the opportunity to return to White Rock for Sunday service. It is Palm Sunday. Since we are celebrating Diane’s birthday at Casa Milagra at 1:00, I got up especially early and went to L A Fitness to swim. I got there at 8:50. I swam for 55 minutes, quickly showered and went to church. The Palm Sunday service was fabulous. Everything looked great! The choir sang a beautiful special. It has grown since I left. Joe has done such a good job with the music program. What a blessing to our church. I spent some time...

Jan 24, 2012 - A Day to Sit

I spent my day of sitting working on my computer. I was working on my CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) project for the park. I have decided to create some classroom activities to be used prior to a field trip so that the students will be acquainted with the historical background and will be able to appreciate the park’s examples of CCC efforts. I want the schools to have motivating, quality activities to use with the children. Then, perhaps they will want to follow-through with a field trip. But, I have learned that budgetary cuts have...

Jan 23, 2012 - My Third Epidural Shot - The Last Hope

I had a weekend of resting, mostly. Whenever I am preparing my body for a spinal epidural shot, I have to take myself off all arthritis medications and anti-inflammatories for the week before. As the week progresses, I get more and more stiff and I don’t usually feel very well. So, fortunately, I was able to lie around and mostly piddle in the trailer. I left early, about 8:00. I had an 1:00 appointment with my doctor, but I had to drive to Dallas, board Luci, go to the bank and get to my friend’s house for her to drive me to the surgery...

Aug 25, 2010 - Garland, Texas - Home

I made it home late Wednesday night (11PM) after leaving Waukee around 8AM. That was a LONG drive.... but at least it got me to my front door and a good nights sleep in my home base. If you can call a night of tossing and turning all night, feeling like I was still driving, a good nights sleep. At least I was home. Thursday morning and evening I unloaded the trailer and changed out the beds (I took my double bed in the trailer on the trip and took the trailer queen matress into my house so I would have a decent bed to sleep on for my big...