Father's Day, 2010 - updates since September 2009

Can't believe it's been so long since I've done anything on this. It seems as though we're so busy, but when I stop to put it all down, it sounds so boring. I've got to get better at getting on the blog, but after a full day of computer at work, I hate being on it at home as well!

September, 2009 - Rich had his hernia surgery and recovered in record time. Looks as though the repair has torn, but we'll see if and when something needs to be done with it.

October, 2009 - Had my knee replacement surgery. Whew. I'm glad it's over - it definitely wasn't fun, but I'm so much better now that I won't hesitate to have my right knee replaced when it's time. In fact, I'll probably push to have it done sooner rather than later. The first 4 weeks were rough, but then it was easier to see progress. Love Dr. Waters!

November, 2009 - After being homebound for nearly 6 weeks after the surgery (due to insurance regulations and the at-home rehab I was able to have) we went to the Alachua Sink. It was a bit chilly, but so good to get out in the fresh air and be able to walk! We also went up to St. Simons Island, GA and stayed at the King and Prince for our 22nd wedding anniversary. Went over to Jekyll Island and had a great lunch and a nice walk on the pier. By the time we returned to the K&P, I was exhausted. It was a delightful weekend, though, and we're looking to repeat it in 2010. Hard to believe that we'll be celebrating our 25th in a little more than two years (and with any luck at all, we'll both be retired by that time!).

Christmas, 2009 - Christmas saw us back at Paynes Prairie. Had some pretty cold weather while we were there, but the heater in the camper works like a charm. We had Charley and Lizzie for an overnight and it was a lot of fun. Rick gave Sam an engagement ring for Christmas and she accepted - the wedding is scheduled for June of 2011 and we're so excited!

January, 2010 - We went to the RV show in Tampa this year. We hadn't been since 2008 and a lot had changed. The 5th wheels are getting much lighter - some can even be towed with a 1/2 ton truck- and the tag-along trailers are getting much nicer - interiors are more like 5th wheels and less like a 3rd rate motel. We just may go with a tag-along! Can't wait until we're actually ready to buy one. We made one purchase at the RV show - a portable propane campfire, which was to come in very handy in March.

For the time we were at the RV show, we camped at Lake Louisa State Park, near Clermont and about 30 minutes NE of Lakeland. The campground is stark, but well-maintained, but the picnic area is beautiful. The photos were taken there. There was a monument to a soldier who died after crashing during a training flight and we read the information from the plaque to Lizzie. A bit later, we took a picture at a poster with more information about the soldier and Lizzie, completely uncoached, saluted - you'll see the photo below. What a pip :)

February, 2010 - Rich's brother, Bob and his wife Greer came down for long-awaited visit. Even though we didn't get much time with them (Rich and I had to work most of the time they were here), we had fun and I think they did, as well. We took them to the Alachua Sink and walked along the La Chua trail, saw lots of really big (15-18') gators, had lunch at our favorite pizza spot - Blue Highway Pizza, in Micanopy, then went to Paynes Prairie and enjoyed the birdwatching at the boardwalk.

The week Bob and Greer left, I left for the 50th Sanibel meeting. We had about 350 people there and it lasted seven days. I was up there nine days to get things ready and tie up the loose ends. Ended up getting bronchitis the third day so it made for a rough time. But, everything worked out and it was considered a resounding success, and that's all I cared about. Only one more of these to get through before I retire, God willing.

March, 2010 - Rich's Uncle Harold and Aunt Martha were wintering in Eustes and met us in Ocala for dinner just before they left. We had a good dinner and a great time - wish we could have had more time to see them, though.

Late in March, we went on vacation. We were hoping for a relaxing vacation - we hadn't had one since spring of fall of 2007 - but it wasn't in the cards. I was still sick with bronchitis but we went anyway - ever hopeful.

We left Saturday morning and in Dalton, GA stopped at our usual motel so we could have dinner at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants, Tijuana. We arrived at Cosby on a Saturday and pitched camp. It was cool and rained off-and-on, but we made corn chowder and sat by our portable campfire, under the awning, and enjoyed. On Sunday, NOAA radio called for 25-35 MPH winds and gusts of 55 MPH until around midnight, when the cold front would move in.

Sunday, I was awake at 5 AM and heard it begin to snow - a soft "whooshing" as it hit the tarp on the camper. By the time Rich awoke and we got outside it was 8 AM and the snow had turned to a combination of snow and sleet. We were still able to make a snowman though :) It was about 35 degrees but we were toasty warm with our propane campfire (and of course, I had on about 6 layers of clothes plus two pairs of gloves and a yummy warm hat!).

Monday we spent at the emergency room - my bronchitis came back and I needed more meds. It was snowing most of the day and I was so frustrated that we had to spend it on the phone with the insurance company, at the hospital, drug store, etc. That night was more of the same.

The weather moderated on Monday and we had a fun time until the wind started up on Thursday. NOAA wasn't forecasting windy conditions (Newport is the nearest city they give a forecast for and it's down the mountain so far less windy and typically warmer), but it was far worse than the 25-35 MPH winds we had previously - turns out they were more like 50 MPH. We spent a nervous night (at least I did) and in the morning straightened up camp. Late that afternoon, the weather forecast was calling for 40 - 50 MPH winds in Newport. We decided discretion was the better part of valor and deserted camp in favor of a motel. The next day the weather was supposed to be as bad or worse, so we packed up and moved to F.D. Roosevelt State Park in Pine Mountain, GA.

Unfortunately, it was Easter vacation and just after we chose a site, 5 families loaded with kids, bikes, and stereos swarmed around us. Bad news! I was still having asthma issues and it seemed that everyone was trying to burn wet wood, so I ended up having to wear a mask most of the time I was outside. It wasn't too bad - I got the chance to scare some of the noisy little kids :)

We spent one day in Columbus, GA and went through the National Civil War Naval Museum at Port Columbus. It was an interesting and enjoyable time.

Our noisy neighbors left the day before we did, for which we were grateful, but Rich had a phone call from one of the men he works with and it turned the evening upside down. The manager where Rich works was fired for stealing. That has changed Rich's hours - he begins work at 5:30! Morning comes much too soon, now.

Also during March, Amber, oldest granddaughter presented us with our second great-grand baby, Paige. Yikes!

May, 2010 - May 26th saw Rick's 31st birthday and the birth of Kevin and Anna Shuford twin girls - Olivia and Emery. The 27th was Kevin and Anna's anniversary - what a present! Mother and daughters are doing well. Dad and Nolan are outnumbered!

June, 2010 - HOT. Several days last week we had a heat index of 108! Come on October and cooler weather!

I'm having a problem getting the photos to upload today, so check out the pictures on my facebook page, please.

Upcoming events:

August - Autumn, Ted's younger daughter, will be bringing our third great-granddaughter into the world.

September - We'll try to make a family reunion work in NY if Rich can get time off. Unfortunately, it will probably be up-in-the-air until the last minute.