Woman versus machine!

We have have been very busy during this Holiday period.

Laura lost the battle with the Criket. After using it, she was returning it to its home on the back porch, when she tried to convince it to back up, while she was standing in front of it. This was fine, except it was still in forward gear. As a result, the Criket went forward, quite rapidly, knocked Laura down, partially ran over her, spread eagled her legs outward, farther than they wanted to go. The good part is that the porch railing, combined with a bamboo type shelf prevented the Criket from going any farther, possibly down the steps.

The result was a painful trip to the Putnam County Hospital, for x-rays, which were negative, and an examination, which showed no broken bones, just bruises. But what bruises. We were lucky, in that the emergency room was quiet, and it only took 2 hours total time.

This took place Wednesday night, and Bluegrass in Georgia was to be Thursday thru Saturday.

After some consideration, we decided to go to the Bluerass. Laura felt she could do nothing but sit anyway, and I could use the rest from working on the shed. So we hooked up the trailer and took Criket Jr with us. Thursday morning we went to Jekyll Island in Georgia. Moving around was very difficult for Laura but sitting still was ok. Laura found it to be very difficult trying to get to our seats, so we sat in the handicap section, with her on Criket Jr, and it worked fine.

Today(Tuesday morning) , it is harder for Laura to get comfortable, but overall, she is ok. She has numerous black and blue spots , incuding one huge one on the inside/backside of her left thigh. (pictures exist). So it looks like a matter of time to heal up and be ok again.

We went to Janes' for Christmas Day and had a good time.

Normas' grandaughter, Jessie was here for the Christmas period, and we took her, along with Buford and Norma to Seaworld. It was a cool day, and very busy, but we got to see all the shows and I think Jessie enjoyed it. We also took them for a boat ride, which was pleasant and saw 8-10 alligators, mostly big ones and Jessie got some good pictures.

The weather here in December has been really great. Up to now, we did not need either the furnace or the ac. This contrasts with last year, when we had 17 frosts in December. We had our first frost last night, with another one expected tonight, then warmer again.

I have been very busy with the shed, which has been slower than desired, but I am gaining. Two more roof panels, then the roofing and it will be protected. Windows on the end and a door will come eventually.

More later.

What a difference 2 years (1 year?) makes

Two years ago, we started the worst two year period of our lives, but we survived it and hopefully are better for it. Two years ago tomorrow, we wre scheduled to go to Disney World, but settled for the Palatka Hospital. One year ago we were beginning the rehab from the final operation, resulting in a whole new knee replacement.

Today, we are working on the construction of our new 10 x 12 ft barn roofed shed, which will give us a tremendous amount of additional room, which will enable us to sort through our stuff and be better organized. Today, we completed installing the last of the custom made trusses. Now we have to align, brace and complete tieing them all together and then the roof and finally the door. I can go up and down the ladders, etc, but after a few hours, my legs and knees are sore, so we try and space it out and combine fun with work.

The weather is much more co-operative this year. Last year, during December, Jacksonville had 17 frosts. This year, NONE, so far. We went out on the boat today, with 77 degrees, and a beautiful sunny day. Only 6 alligators, but they were big ones.

Last week, we went to Sea World on Tuesday, Busch Gardens on Wenesday, and Clearwater Beach on Thursday(Winter, the tail-less Dolphin) lives there. Visited with Dick Diamond and toured Clearwater Beach a little. Dick was my college roomate for all four years at Grove City College during 1959-1962. Neither could remember when we last saw each other, but it was fun to get together again. Dick is presently suffering from back and other injuries suffered in a bad fall several years ago.

The story on Winter is that she got severly caught up in a lobster trap rope, and was damaged in the process. Her tail section atrophied and fell off, leaving her unable to swim normally. She was 3 months old at the time and rescued by the Clearwater Museum. The museum worked with some specialty prothesis company and they developed a special tail made of carbon fiber, which has worked, and they are now on #18, because Winter is now 4-5 years old, and continues to grow. A 3-D movie was made (Dolphin Tales) and the DVD was supposed to be released today.

Anyway, Winter has proved to be an inspirational model for numerous children and war vets who have lost limbs and are using different protheses to regain mobility and face life. Winter has proven to be a million dollar dolphin as her story spreads and more and more people come to see her. I was originally unimpressed, but now I believe everyone who comes to the Clearwater area should come and see her.

Tomorrow is my Birthday and we are going to the Deland Flea Market, possibly Alfies for fish and if time, work on the shed.

Like everyone else, we will be busy during the next week. Normas' grandaughter Jessie is supposed to arrive Thursday sometime and Norma wants her to have a boat ride on the famous St Johns, and this is scheduled for Friday(weather permitting). There is also a possibility of going to Sea World again (with Norma and Jessie?). It looks like we are going to be with Jane on Christmas Day?

On the 29, 30, and 31st of Dec. we will be in Jekyll Island, Georgia for an indoor Bluegrass Concert, and may go to Savannah for New years day.

Lester and Sue are due back about the 3rd of Jan, and there are nunerous events going on later in Jan and early Feb.

Heidi wants more pictures, but I have to work at this, so be patient

One year later

I just finished(nearly) composing the latest blog when it suddenly disappeared. I don't feel like doing it all over right now, so here are the basics. One year ago today, was the last surgery leading to the condition I am in now, which is "pretty good". I haven't taken a pain pill for many months. I have no problem eating or sleeping, and I am starting to do things to catch up for the two years of inability to do things. I can walk fairly well, but am still a little clumsy. I need some more time to improve my flexability and endurance, but that will happen. Next week we are going to Busch Gardens and SeaWorld to see their Christmas programs. We will also go to Clearwater Beach to visit Dick Diamond, my roommate at Grove City College many years ago. It has been quite a while since we have seen him. Laura also wants to visit "Winter" at Clearwater Beach Aquarium. "Winter" is a dolphin who does not have a tail. Apparently a prothesis has been fitted so he has an artificial tail which enables him to swim.

We have acquired material to finish the roof on our new shed. We have been boat riding. Big alligators are still out sunning themselves. More later.

Trying to catch up

I have been told to "update my blog", so here it is.

Everybody, look at Lizas "Mohr Life" and look at the pictures of Kat, Charlie, Gracie and Eli, all holding hands and jumping and skipping into the air, and then tell me whether you think Heidi and Dan made the right decision to bring Kat home to WNY. Those pictures say it all.

November, like all the previous months, has flown by really fast. We have been busy doing things, like going to see Chubby Checker at the Volusia county Fair. Chubby was amazing in that, once he came out on stage , he did all his songs with great enthusisam(?), and went immediately fom one song to another. He performed steadily for about 75 minutes, before ending the show. He had a small band that was very good, but very loud. All the hearing aids in that joint became unnessary, for a while. This guy is 70 years old this year.

I was able to determine that my boat problem was a messed up control unit, so we bought a new unit for $240, installed it and everyhing is fine now. We went out twice yesterday, Thanksgiving day. I put my Garmin 580 GPS on the boat to give me speed info and also to act as an odometer. After the second trip, the odometer says we have traveled almost 110 miles on the ol St Johns. Two years ago, it probably only went 15-20 miles for the whole season. I like the present situation better.

Sue and Lester arrived from the North with colds, which we have fought, but we lost the battle. At this point, Laura and I, both , have nice colds, which are beginning to go away.

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and we wound up at Sue and Lesters with a garbage can turkey. Other guests were Bill and Bev Weston from Vermont(Pomona Park), Virgil and Helen from W. Virginia(P0mona Park), Gary and Connie Scott from Chillicothe, Ohio, (next door), her sister Elaine,and grandaughters Taylor and Bry-Lin.

We were at Barberville for one weekend, to listen to all kinds of acoustic music, which we enjoy. We hear that Gracie is thinking of playing Trumpet, and we know that Shawn is going to try learning the Guitar, and we know that Cheyenne knows how to play the flute(?), Encourage them all to hang in there and learn to play.

Here in the South, the Christmas Season mandates Parades of all kinds. Tonight is the first one for this area, which is a Christmas Marching Parade. Tonights' parade is in Palatka, and is projected to be 1- 1/12 hrs long, which is pretty good for a small town. Tomorrow night is the first lighted boat parade, which is in Jacksonville. This is one of the biggest in this area, with about 80 boats of all sizes. In addition to the Parade, they have spectacular fireworks. How they can afford the fireworks is beyond me.

For those interested, my knee continues to improve. It will soon be one year (Dec 9, 2010), for the last surgery and 2 years since all of this stuff surfaced (Dec 18, 2009). it was a bad period, and hopefully we are done with this kind of stuff.

OK, the blog has been updated and we try and do better in the future, Suffice to say, we are doing well in sunny Florida.

Catching up again

After a hectic weekend, we left Ripley on Oct 5. The weather got progressively better as went along. No problems, spent the first night in Corbin, Kentucky.Arrived in Norris the next morning and enjoyed three days of beautiful weather.The music was good, and we enjoyed the music at the Volunteer Campground most nights. Sunday afternoon, we left Norris and stopped in Centerville, Georgia. Arrived in Satsuma about 5:00 PM. There had been heavy weather the weekend before, but was ok when we arrived. We had about an hour, in which we got everything unloaded from the trailer, and then the skies opened up and we had a terrific rainstorm.

It was warm and humid but we were here with no problems. The power was on, the water was on, the gas was on and the a/c worked. What more did we need.

The next day the water heater came on, it was 90 degrees and humid, with the a/c we were fine. Last year we messed around with a recalcitrant refrigerator, but today, we went to Sears and bought a new one, using a gift card with points earned from our credit card. On wed. we went to Deland Flea Market and to Wally and Joanies to deliver stuff we brought down for them and to get haircuts and visit the local hearing aid dealer and then to Alfies for fish with Norma and Buford and Janice. 88 degrees.

Friday , it was senior citizens and then Supper with Bob and Laverne. They are doing well. Cooling down to 85 degrees. Sat. we went to Daytona Beach for large yaed sales and visited Jane, who is doing well.

Sunday, we went another flea market in Ocala and to Silver Springs, where we re-upped our passes.

The next few days we worked, cleaning up, organizing, putting things away, etc., then more yard sales and flea markets. Monday the 23rd, we went to Seaworld, taking the new little cart, which worked very well. We shared riding it, which worked out very well. Lester and Sue arrived on Tuesday , so off we went again, to a flea market in Deland and to St Augustine, to tour some of St George St and the Fort. Today was music at the Sr Center and tomorrow, who knows? Next week, one day, we plan to go to Busch Gardens. Then later(in December, we will go back to both of them to see their Christmas programs.

We enjoyed two boat rides before trouble developed with the shift linkage. We have been too busy to determine what the exact problem is, but will tackle it soon.

For those who are interested, I am doing quite well. The knee is still sore at times, but it is getting stronger and more flexible all the time. I walked(slow pace) the entire St Augustine trip, half of Seaworld, and all of the different flea marlets I am eating well, sleeping well and beginning to catch up on some of the neglected areas, encountered over the last two years.

Heidi put a very nice article in the Palatka paper about our 50th, of which we have received numerous copies from local friends and neighbors. Thanks to all of you who helped with the anniversary celebration. Today is the first day of the 51st year. We shall see how far this goes.

Also for those who are interested, our new internet system is working quite well. The Verizon signal is not strong in this area, but is sufficent. We place the Tablet near a window, and get a strong wi-fi signal all around the house. We are quite happy with it. So long for now and will try to do a better job of keeping up.

Mom and dad arrived in Tennessee

Mom called to give us the update that they arrived in TN without issues.

Sent from my iPhone

Way, Way Behind again

August and September went by already. Today is Oct 2, and we are getting ready to leave for Florida Wed morning. We are actually going to Norris Tennesee to the "Homecoming" which is Thurs-Sun and will leave there Sunday afternoon with an expected arrival in Florida on Monday Afternoon.

Today , we are going to the Vikings for the Trailer association fund Raiser, and then focus on getting ready to leave for Florida.

Yesterday, we had our early Christmas with the kids and grandchildren. It worked out very well. Plenty of food and gifts all around. John Adams and Susie(Lizas Mom) were also there.

Friday morning we left here and went to Dr Bodkins office for our annual" leaving for Florida visit." Our blood work results were there and We are happy to report that we are in pretty good shape(for the shape we are in). This year we are planning on NO doctor or hospital visits. We are just finishing up paying some of the bills for our previous work.

Friday afternoon, Laura went to see Dr Twist, the eye surgeon. Everything is well with her de-cataracted eye and she has improved vision with it..The Dr said she should think about having the other eye done next year, so we will wait and see.

Then we went to Roger and Claudines' house for a pre gig birthday party for Larry Brennan who is now 76.

We have been busy with fiddle gigs, as we enjoy them and our Fiddle People. We played at Clarence Farmers Market, Niagara County Fair, Lewiston Art Festival, Alexander Gas and Steam Engine Show, Celtic Festival at Olcott, and Farm Days at Somerset, and assorted oter smaller events. We went back and forth to the Buffalo Area many times this summer.

We had a problem with the Criket, which was relatively easy to fix, but difficult to diagnose. We finally got it together again. Meanwhile , we bought a used Victory 10 (by Pride), is in brand new condition. This is to be used in Florida, when we go to Disney, or Seaworld or whatever.

We did go to Marineland again, and Darien Lake again this summer.

We got "Mohr-Fun" into the water and got only one ride out of it, but it was still a moral victory for us. We just sold Mohr-Fun, which is a 1964 boat that gave us a lot of service, and replaced it with a 20 ft pontoon boat similar to what we have in Florida. So next year, free boat rides for everyone. Line up, as we only can take 12 people at a time. We do expect a lot more boating activity next year. It will be stationed at Lakeside, but can be brought over and docked at the Vikings.

The replacement knee is doing quite well. Progress is slow but steady. I can now go up and down steps the proper way instead of favoring the one. Getting up and down to the floor is still awkward but steadily improving.` I did manage to replace the middle bathroom floor with new 3/4 plywood and ceramic tile, along with a new high rise toilet. It came out well and looks good. Come on over and try it out(next year). This was done in time for the annual Turkey Jam which was held Sept 20. We ran out of time , so it had to be on a weekday. We had 59 well fed people , who had a great time. The weatherman blessed us with a beautiful day sandwiched between several crummy days.

That about sums it up. Both the Vikings and Lakeside are winterized and we will do Ripley shortly. So we are off to the land of Sunshine and warmth and wish those of you who are doomed to spend the Winter up North, good luck. We will be in contact shortly. We have a different internet setup now , which is much more flexible, so we have no excuses for not keeping up. We can now update this blog while riding up and down on a rollercoaster, so we will have to try it. See you all later.