Refrigerator (RV) check light

June 25, 2017: Great time with our camping group at Sweetwater Summit County Campground last week. It was great to see and be seen by our camping friends. We have been members of this groups since 1998. There were a few issues: rig was overrun by ants; refrigerator stopped working; propane alarm kept going off but otherwise all was well! I was very proud of myself Wednesday night with the check light came on the refrigerator. This was immediately after David had left the campground for a bit. I remembered that it needed 12v for the circuit board even though we were plugged into 120v. So I checked the batteries and sure enough they needed a little water. I added the water and fridge began working again and the propane alarm did not go off that night. One of the guys checked the batteries after I added water and said they were working fine, charging etc.

Thursday night check light comes on again. Grrr. Turned it off and moved a couple “blue ice” next to the milk to make it through the night. And propane alarm went off later in the night. There are several theories, thoughts, ideas and wild guesses which I will not go into here. Bottom line, made an appointment to take coach into shop July 6 which is just before the all important oncology appointment July 7. At least this happened on the last day of camping.

David was still “recovering” from his chemo treatment the previous Thursday. He took a lot of naps and missed the morning walks. But he and I were glad to be an “RVer” again for a few days.

Saturday was our monthly breakfast with the camping chapter. Many of the same folks were there that we had just spent the week with. We sat next to a new couple. It was so fun to talk about beginning full timing, brought back a lot of memories and great to share some of the things we learned. It also reminded me of all the work and issues that had to be worked out, more than I want to even think about!

After the breakfast and naps at the house along with a few chores (for me) we took the rig down to Sea World to check out the new nighttime shows. They have a lot of new electric type shows. I love all the lights at night. It was also apparent to me that David does not have a high level of energy. We did a show, grabbed a bite to eat, then to the rig to rest. Went back to see night time features and after one show back to the rig to head home. I would have liked to done some more walking around and in the past we would have but David said his legs were feeling like rubber. No problem, with our passes we can go and see one show or one section at a time. That concludes a busy fun filled week.

June 15 - doctor, chemo, Sea World

June 15, 2017 Today is chemo; yesterday was visit with oncology doctor. Looks like another CT scan will be July 3^rd, hey, that’s exactly one year from David’s ER visit to confirm his pancreatic tumor diagnosis. Dr Liu says that David is an outlier because the average is 6-8 months life after diagnosis. He is doing well (all things considered); tolerating the chemo, etc. After the CT scan he will most likely have a chemo holiday. He’s had like 11 sessions which is quite a few treatments. I can tell he is not bouncing back like he had been. His fatigue is much more but his appetite seems to be good.

There is a slight chance of surgery but not only do I (with my medical background!) think that is not much of possibility. I don’t know how much I’d be for it. It is a very invasive surgery and lengthy recovery – for younger folks, let alone a diabetic, almost 70 year old.

All in all still very good report. We are keeping as active as possible and enjoying all the little things in life. In fact, we will probably take a cruise if/when David has his chemo holiday. We would wait a few weeks after his last chemo so his immune system can build back up. Next week we will be at Sweetwater Summit camping with our Escapees RV local chapter, Shanty Shakers. It’s good reconnecting with that group. Sadly, Kay Peterson passed away, her and her late husband, Joe, founded the Escapees RV Club. That club had a big influence on us and our full time lifestyle. We were privileged to have known both Kay and Joe and family. I don’t have the words to do them or the club justice, check them out sometime.

After chemo, we went down to Sea World for late lunch; early dinner and to do a little walking.

Ok, don’t forget to hug the ones you’re with and do something you’ve always dreamed of.

Desert Nights

6-11-17 Desert Nights: now this is what the desert is all about. Sitting out on the patio, it’s quiet and cool. We are reading after dinner. After awhile, we look up and see that night has come and the starts are out. It’s beautiful. Ok maybe there aren’t a lot of nights like this but I sure enjoy them when we have them.

It was a nice finish to a nice day. We went out to lunch and later friends stopped by for a short visit on their way back to Gilbert AZ from San Diego. He visits us in both places and this trip he had his wife and two kids with him. I don’t know who enjoyed showing off our tiny motorhome more, him or us. I thought they would be interested in seeing the park model (tiny house) but he first went to the motorhome. It really is a well laid out rig and its always fun to show it off. And in this day and age of no discipline I thought his daughter and son were well behaved, polite, and talked along with us.

Short visits are good for David. He enjoys seeing people but tires more and more quickly so he had a nap before dinner. And I had to fix dinner. Which if you know me is a bit of an issue but I managed. No, I will not tell you what was on the menu.

Returning to San Diego for next chemotherapy. Only a couple more and then another CT scan which may give us a new direction – maybe . We are grateful that according to the last scan, David is stable. I guess that means the cancer has not spread and we take that as good news.

June 6 2017 - Happy Birthday Dad

Today would have been my dad’s 92^rd birthday. He never got to hear any of our travel stories but I know he was watching us. He did not travel like we did. My dad was up at dawn and drove until dusk, not like us. We lived by the 10-2 rule. “Out” by 10; “in” by 2. Basically you left your campground by 10 a.m. and checked into the next one by 2 p.m. That way you missed any morning work traffic and got a site early enough to enjoy the place and before they filled up. It was just a general rule giving us time to be relaxed and actually see some of the country. Ahh, the good ole days, I sure enjoyed them but don’t miss them. 47 states and maybe a couple hundred thousand miles; which includes Alaska and Hawaii even tho no motorhome was involved.

All that travel, all those places and here we are in Yuma! I can’t believe how much we are enjoying it here. This has turned out to be such a great escape. When we are here, we feel like we are on vacation and have gotten away. Since we arrive a day or two after David’s chemo treatment, the first couple days are lost on him. He has pain and discomfort.  That may not be an adequate description but he is so good about not complaining, I’ll leave it at that!

There are a few folks who are here year-round. They always welcome us back. The park has an exercise room that I use, a bit, a pool which David isn’t to use and a lending library. The library has supplied us with movies and puzzles. My mother loved puzzles and I seem to be hooked too.

Cheap movies at the local theater with some very comfortable seats and lots of restaurants and shopping because we are still putting our own touch on our place here. David is good for only one activity until he needs to rest. Then I just go to my puzzle or book. It’s all good.

If you are out this way, stop by and say hello!