2013 - Almost Summer!!! April and May

It's been a while - again!  Got so far behind!  And I've been busy too!

We got headed home mid-April.  Keith had his appointment for the surgery to correct the 'swan's neck' syndrome in his 3 "leftist" fingers of his left hand.  After many miles and absolute circle jerks with the VA (yes, Veteran's Health Administration) we totally gave up on them and went to Dr. Butters at Slocum Ortho in Eugene!  His surgery was scheduled for May 28 - right outta the box!!  I was like - YEA - go team!!  So great!

So we did the preop before we headed north to Bremerton!  We took the travel trailer up and parked it in S'te and Rod's driveway before boarding the Holland-America Westerdam for our 7 day Alaska Cruise!

1st day on board in Seattle :)

Dressed for Dinner

Keith worked with him for several years.  They were on board 

with their daughter and son-in-law

Just one of the glaciers - we were lucky enough to see it 'calving' just a little.  The blue is the 'fossilized' snow and is what makes it a glacier.

Map of where we were on Glacier Bay

Keith was so excited - we took a helicopter ride up onto a glacier near Mendenhall Glacier.

Us standing on the Glacier with ice boots

A picture from the helicopter (in the air) of the cracks and crevasses in the glacier.

Another photo of the ice field from the air - and of the weather that came in right behind us.

The helicopter ride was awesome.  At times I was glad that I was sandwiched between Keith and another couple in the back seat.  It was quite a ride.  Weather came in right behind us and they sent a 'scout' helicopter in for our pilots to follow out.  Ours was the only trip of the day... 'due to weather'...  sure glad we were on the ground when I heard that!  haha!!

 Keith went into town by himself in Ketchikan.  I just wasn't up to it.  I watched the activity from the Lido Deck and we both enjoyed our days.  Keith went ashore in Seward also - They used the dingy's to go ashore and I just didn't think that would work for me :)  I only went ashore in Juneau and Victoria.

We had an awesome trip - we played some slots, a few table games, went to the entertainment each evening, and of course, we ATE, and we ATE, and we ATE!  We invested to a week pass for the hydro-pool and sauna - and that was totally unbelievable.  We saw wolves, fish, whales, people, food, all sorts of birds - early spring - everything was just waking up.  The whales were awesome but surfaced so quickly I didn't get any good photos :) 

In  Victoria - the ship had an issue with Customs so - even tho' we actually arrived early - we berthed about an hour late and also at the same time as another ship - it was an unbelievable mess!  No one seemed to know where anyone was going - or supposed to go.  The signage was vague - and we got wrong directions several times.  Our excursion was supposed to go to one of the Castle's, to the "Hotel" for Tea, and tour the historic area - a 3 hour tour... (reminds me of Gilligan's Island) hehee... BUT... we got in the wrong line - went to another line - got told to go back to the 1st line - got told this is NOT the right line - and I finally got change to call the number - and found the guy - and it as already 7 and the ship was leaving at 10 - and it was SOOOO cold!!!!  He just gave me a refund - I paid $140 USD for the excursion for 2.  He refunded 140 CanDollars - and then I had to pay 10% to the exchange to change it back to USD... I really got ripped...  A bit annoyed for sure!  We got back on the ship and had some culinary therapy and went to enjoy the Casino for the last evening!  We learn a great lesson every single day :)

S'te picked us up from the ship on Saturday morning and wah-laa - there was a Jaguar's Track Meet in Seattle!  So we drove across town and watched the kids!  They did so great!

 

 

We also looked at, and put in an offer, on the house across the street from them.  It is a smelly, trashy, tore up, and a foreclosure to boot.  But it is has so many possibilities!  I'm thinking it could be an awesome place with a lot of work!! 

So - we shall see.  Next on the agenda is Keith's hand surgery. 

Whatever the mind of man can conceive 

and believe, 

it can achieve. 

–Napoleon Hill

2013 - March and part of April. . .

 It was a very, very busy spring.  Still depressed over losing my little Tristin - I had to stay busy or go totally nuts.  So stay busy I did!  After our move across the 'street' to the park model trailer - I followed my neighbors suit and put in a 'drip' sprinkler system so that I could keep everything watered while we were gone for the summer.  I potted new plants and transplanted cactus that were actually splitting out their old pots.  The boys really loved having the deck and front windows that they could 'see' out of! :)

 About two weeks after our big 'move' April, Elizabeth, and Brennan got to come out for their promised visit!  April is getting a little bit of a 'baby belly' but not to much of one :)  So excited to be expecting a brand new grandson in August.  Elizabeth is real excited to have a new baby - of course!  Brennan is rather blase about it - like boys seem to be when it comes to "girl" stuff!

 While they were there we did the River Tour that was provided by the Riverside.  It was a great boat ride.  It toured up to the Dam and down beyond Harrahs giving details, history, and a lot of fun facts about Laughlin, Bullhead City, and the Colorado River.  Of course we had lots of great food, a soak in the hot tub, and a great gab fest!  Evie's family was also here to visit this same week - so we were all busy going and doing!  April and kids also visited Lake Havesu City and the London Bridge, and went over to Oatman to see the ghost town.  We didn't do this trip with them as Keith had an appointment as I had to get him ready to travel back East with April.

 Just before the kids and Keith were due to leave for the trip back to St. Louis we got some really bad news about Aunt Nita.  She had earlier been diagnosed with an inoperable 'growth' - and time was getting closer than anyone had realized.  Dad and I decided that we needed to make a quick trip up...  Here is how we traveled...

We got to Myrtle Point and spent Easter and Aunt Nita's birthday with her.  S'te and Brayana came down on a flying trip from Bremerton to see her.  We were all there the same day that Michelle and her girls were over from Eastern Oregon.  Aunt Nita was up and down most of the day - we just visited and waited until she felt up to being awake.  Just before we left - we all sang a bittersweet happy birthday to her.  She seemed to enjoy that :)  

Aunt Nita's 83 Birthday

Before leaving Myrtle Point, we stopped down at the Assisted Care Center and saw Aunt Peggy and Uncle Homer.  They were just finishing dinner and were happy to see us.  We visited for just a few minutes before Aunt Peggy said she was tired and ready to go back to their room.  Everyone there was very nice to us.

Keith was due to be fly into the Las Vegas Airport on April 2 - so Evie flew into Eugene on Friday.  Her and Dad will stay here in Coos Bay for as long as they need to.  I left on Monday, spent the night with Mom and Teri, and did a long day drive on Tuesday (of course, with the boys) to be at the airport by the time Keith landed.                         Aunt Nita went to be with Uncle Jim on April 3.   Susie and Debbie were with her.  Dad and Evie had spend the afternoon over there with her.  She was surrounded by love. my Aunt Nita Robertson

On April 4 we celebrated our 9th Wedding Anniversary.  It was a very quiet day - we just kind of unpacked and got resettled after our trips and recent loss of my very dear Aunt.

In memory of Aunt Nita and Uncle Jim . . .  Clear back in 1975 when I first got back to Myrtle Point (I was 20) after living back in the eastern part of the USA most of my life, Aunt Nita kind of took me under her wing.  She acted as tho' I had never been gone.  She was a bit rough on me (or so I thought at the time) at times but she helped me immensely.  I had no car or transportation - so she took me over to SWOCC to get my GED, took care of Jeremy while I took (and passed ) the tests.  She helped me get situated with a doctor, loaned me funds to get an apartment (right upstairs from Mom on Ash Street) for Jeremy and I, and always welcomed me at her house.  I spent many, many hours over there - never tiring of the conversation and learning about my father's side of the family.  Uncle Jim also took me right in - like the lost that I was...  All through the years, Aunt Nita and Uncle Jim championed me - during some very hard times - and through some even harder times.  I worked for them for several years at the Casino.  I sometimes felt that she expected more from me than anyone else and I pushed to try to produce.  Sometimes I failed.  Sometimes I didn't.  But I always felt close to her. There was a time of a massive misunderstanding and we went several years without contact - even though we lived in the same community - but Jeremy's disappearance in 1986 completely dissolved and overcame that.  Aunt Nita immediately flew into high gear and did everything she could think of to do - to help me find him.  Her efforts (as all of our efforts) came to naught - but I know - in my heart - that she tried her very, very best.  To this day - I love and thank her for all she and Uncle Jim did for me, S'te, and Jeremy.  I know that she will find a way to help Jeremy let us know where he is and what happened.  I just know she will.  Rest in Peace Aunt Nita and Uncle Jim.  I think of you often and always with good and loving memories.

So that was my March and early April...

Intermission - Part II

We went back to Bullhead on the 15th of February (or thereabouts) and settled in as a childless couple.  I finished putting together all the parts and pieces of Tman's stay with us that didn't go with him - but I WILL see him again and take his things to him.  

Among the things we did was - buy a nicer "park model" trailer that is 2 doors down from Dad.  So I took photos of the travel trailer and set about getting it ready to sell - after I got all moved out of it.  About this time we found out that April and the kids were going to be able to come visit us for spring break (YAY) in March.  I was so happy to get that news! 

And we planned a trip to Algonadones, MX for a long overdue visit to the dentist.  Dad and Evie went with us - we took the 'boys' and stayed in Yuma (I'd only driven thru there).  Cinco didn't care much for the whooptee of the up and down roads and ended up carsick... The drive through the desert was beautiful!  I love all the different scenery that God has provided us with :)  I did the driving - so I didn't get many photos -  but here is one I took during a rest stop.

We  stayed at the Best Western in Yuma - really nice rooms and a nice breezeway to sit out in.

 The boys settled right in - as they had their choices of laps - it seemed that they both always chose the same one at the same time :)






Of course, Chato had his bone that he wasn't taking any chances on losing.  He looks so funny with that stubby bone sticking outta his mouth!

We headed for the dentist on Tuesday morning - got our appointment all done and found out that my partial wouldn't be ready until Saturday morning.  What to do???
We sat down to tacos and burritos and discussed the impending several day wait.  And Keith said... "How about we just run on over to San Diego?  Jackson said we are always welcome!"  Dad didn't disagree or say he wouldn't go - so - we went back to Yuma - got our 'stuff' loaded while Keith made arrangements with the Best Western to return on Friday - and off we went!  Evie had never been over the I-8 to San Diego or to San Diego itself - so she was ready!!

 Jackson was suprised to see us, to say the least.  He came home from his doctor appointment - and there we were!  Teach him not to have a cell phone and go somewhere the day Keith tries to call him!!  We had a great visit and werer very well welcomed.  Evie and I cooked dinner (well, the first night we reheated the pounds of food that was left over from our Dave's BBQ visit the night before).  Then Jackson cooked a huge roast.  

 We went up to Channel 1 and visited with friends there while Keith, Jackson, and Dad played pool.  We took a day and went sight seeing - over Coronado and had ice cream.  Dad just about froze - of course - we went the coldest 2 days of the year!  But he was a great sport about it!  I ran over and bought him a fleece to keep some of the chill off!  I do believe that Jackson was unhappy to see us go.  We had a lot of laughs and a great time.

  Heading back over the hill to Yuma - we hit SNOW!!  and it was terribly cold in Algonadones.  But - we had a road trip and it was great fun.  

 On the way back we stopped at Lake Havasu so that I could take a closer look at the London Bridge.  It's been there for a while - and we've driven past it a few times - but this time I was determined.  SO I didn't ask anyone - I just stopped.  Dad and Keith didn't want to get out of the pickup - so Evie and I took our own little wander and snapped a few photos.

We managed to get Dad and Evie back to Bullhead all safe and sound! 

Now I get to start packing and getting ready to move across the street!  :)  And looking forward to the visit from April and the grandkids!