Still in Blaine, Washington

 

Sunday, August 22, 2010                                                                                                 Lorraine’s report

Another week here at Beachwood in Blaine, WA, and was it as busy as ever.

Last Sunday we were invited by Chuck’s old crew (“D Shift”) at BP to go to the plant for brunch and a visit. I know Chuck really enjoyed his time visiting with all the guys he worked with before he retired, and so did I. It’s so great to see how much they all have learned, and to see how confident they are on the job. Thank you all for inviting us, we loved visiting with all of you!

Monday found us headed to the first of our new family doctors visits. Chuck went in Monday afternoon and spent about an hour going over tests, and his concerns with our new doctor. What a nice change from the last doctor; we went in and you could only go over three things with that doc, then he told you to make another appointment.

He didn’t have time for anything else, even though I scheduled time when I made the appointment. This new doctor listened, was very thorough and he cared.

We came back home and went over to Rob and Norma’s, and found Rob, his son, Sean, and our friend, Rick planting a privacy hedge, so Chuck stayed and help plant the rest. He was over there several hours planting. I came home and watched a movie.

Tuesday was my turn to visit the new family doctor. He told us he had spent two plus hours the week before going over my chart before I even went in. Since I hadn’t done a fasting blood test, I would have to do that, and then go back in for all the results.

Afterwards we ran into a coworker of Chuck’s, Bob, it was nice to see him. He told us about finding the daughter of a long lost co-worker, Dan Jackson. She was working at a bank across the street, so we went over there and she called her dad, who was in Oklahoma, and handed the phone to Chuck. They visited a bit and exchanged addresses.

When we started the day, never in our wildest dreams did we think we would find and talk with Dan Jackson.

The next day Chuck took me into the lab for my fasting blood test, and then we had breakfast. We had shopping and errands to run, then home. Afterwards, we headed out to the Northwest Washington Fair, which was going on all week. It was the fair’s 100^th Birthday. Was it ever crowded and busy, it was hard to walk around with so many people. We ran into several friends, we saw Breta and John Brown, John and Paula Dahm, while there plus many others.

We came home and here came a knock on the door. It was friends, Ray and Barb Kendall. They saw us the other day when they were looking for a site here at Beachwood and we were coming out of Rick/Joy’s rig. They came in and spent several hours visiting. We made plans to go to lunch with them the next day.

Thursday Ray and Barb came over and we went to lunch with them. We then came back here and visited some more. We know Ray and Barb from Susy, our daughter’s Rainbow Girls. Katie and Susy were in Rainbow together and are good friends. We spent the whole day catching up, having B-B-Q, then an evening of Pass the Love. What a great visit.

Friday found us visiting Rick/Joy, and Rob/Norma before we headed into town dropping off stuff for other tests. While in town, we had a call from more friends, Sharon and TJ, whose lot we stayed on the first year we were in Yuma. They were expecting Larry and Kathy, who own the lot next door to them in Yuma, and wanted us to stop by for a visit with them all.

We finished our running and stopped by to see Sharon/TJ, and Larry/Kathy. Again, it was great to catch up and visit with such good friends. Thank you!

Friday night we were taking my sister and BIL, Thelma and John out to dinner at the Silver Reef. Joining us were Rick/Joy, Joy’s mother, Gwen; Rob/Norma, their son Sean, and DIL, Rick/Joy’s daughter, Gail and Rick/Joy’s son and his wife, Mark and his spouse, (sorry I didn’t catch her name). We had a wonderful meal. Good food, great friends, you can’t ask for more.

While I was getting ready for dinner, Chuck had taken Misty dog for a walk. He started talking with a couple parked right behind our rig; and found out that they were from Ketchikan, Alaska. He brought them over and come to find out that her dad owned Wingrens grocery store where my mother got our groceries. Their names are Rick and Elizabeth Kometz, and I had gone to school with Rick’s sister, Kathy. It sure is a small world out there.

Saturday found me in the kitchen preparing the food I was taking to my sister’s 45^th Anniversary party. What a great day we had with my sister and her family. There was tons of food, great drinks, and lots of laughter; you couldn’t ask for more. A grand time was had by all.

I have to say this week found the weather a whole lot cooler. It’s like they turned off a light switch. The temperatures dropped from high to mid 70’s during the day to the mid 60’s with lows down to the low 50’. Chuck gave in on Thursday morning and put on jeans and shoes and socks, the first time since April.

That’s it for me for now. I’ve really enjoyed seeing all our family and friends. I needed this! Thank you everyone.

Until next time………..Lorraine

 

8/22/10                                                                                                                                Chuck’s report

Boy, we usually don’t spend this much time in one place and we’re still keeping busy!  Once again we were on the go almost everyday, mostly visiting with our friends over lunch or dinner somewhere.  I need to stop having food at every meeting, I’m putting on too much weight.

Let’s see, last Sunday Lorraine and I were invited to the refinery for a brunch with my old crew.  What a great time we had but those guys remember lots of things I never did or said.  Don’t know where they get that kind of stuff from.  Thanks Dorothy and all the guys, we had a great time with all of you. 

Monday was my turn to go to the doctor.  We changed doctors this year and found a good one.  He was very good explaining all the blood test results, listened to my concerns and asked good questions.  We were with him just less than an hour and he didn’t seem to be worried or hurried, guess he scheduled enough time for an initial visit.  Anyway, I’m good to go for another year, only added one new prescription and refilled my old ones. 

Later that evening we went over to visit with Rob/Norma at their new rig.  They own a lot here and he and his son and friend Rick were planting some trees to make a border.  Norma was out with their grand daughters so I offered to lend a hand planting the trees and Lorraine went back to our coach.  Rob is a real task master, kept us working until after dark but we got finished.  Looks good.

Next morning it was Lorraine’s turn to visit our new doctor.  Once again, he proved to be a good listener but when he got to the blood test results, he found Lorraine didn’t have all the tests she needed so he ordered more and we made another appointment to go over them later this week.  So far though, no problems to report here either.  We did take her new prescriptions and checked Wal-Mart to see if any of them were in the $4/month list.  We were pleasantly surprised to find all of them were on their list.  So now, besides being cheaper, we can fill her prescriptions while on the road at any Wal-Mart and not have to mess with mail order, yea. 

After leaving the doctor, we drove over to the grocery store across the street where we happened to meet an old co-worker of mine, Bob.  We had a good time visiting and he introduced us to the daughter of a friend I haven’t seen in years.  She was able to call her dad in Oklahoma and let me talk to him and his wife.  Now that I know where he lives now we will make plans to see them next time we are in their area. 

Next morning Lorraine had her blood drawn for her new tests and this was a fasting blood draw so afterwards we went to breakfast.  We stopped by Costco and Albertson to get some stuff, off loaded them at the coach and then headed out to the Northwest Washington Fair in Lynden.  The fair has big name entertainers every year, they had Kenny Rogers playing later that day.  We couldn’t get tickets which was probably just fine as it was way too crowded for me.  We looked around for a few hours then came back to the coach.

Later that evening, our friends Barb/Raymond came over for a visit.  We visited until bedtime and made plans to meet with them for lunch the next day.  While at lunch we made plans to get together for a Bar-B-Q at our place later in the day.  Once again, we had a good time visiting with them until time to cook, ate then visited once again while we taught them a card game. 

Friday we got a call from our friends TJ/Sharon.  They have a home close by and their neighbors from Yuma, Larry/Kathy, were going to come by and they wanted us to go to lunch with them.  We already had plans for lunch but were able to stop by for couple of hours.  We got caught up with the happenings of both these couples and promised to see them this winter when we are in Yuma. 

Later we went to a casino for an early 45th wedding anniversary dinner for John/Thelma.  Our mutual friends who are down from Canada, Rick/Joy and her mother Gail met us there to join us for dinner.  Small world that it is, some of our other Canadian friends, Rob/Norma and their son/daughter and spouses, happened to be at the next table and joined us in wishing them a Happy Anniversary.  A good meal, a good time with good friends and celebrating a happy occasion.  I guess we will have to make plans to be back here in five years for their 50th.

Saturday was John/Thelma’s actual anniversary day so they were having their children, spouses and grand children over for a continued celebration.  They invited us over to their house to join them also.  We had a good time with all of them. 

After such a busy week, we were both tired and called it a night a bit earlier than normal.  Lorraine was right when she said we should stay here longer this year.  We’ve been busy with family and friends and this week will probably be more of the same. 

We will be meeting our friends Richard/Sandy for dinner this evening and so far that’s our only scheduled meeting for this week.  Our Canadian friends will be returning home this week and we will try to spend some time with them while they are here.  We will be moving back to 1000 Trials campground as our two weeks here will be up on Wednesday.  Lorraine has her follow-up doctor visit on Friday morning but we don’t expect any bad news this time either. 

We will be staying in the area until Lorraine’s last doctor visit, scheduled for Sept. 9th.  One of the camping groups we joined, Lewis and Clark Chapter of FMCA, are having a rally in Chehalis, Washington starting the 9th.  Although we would would like to see them, we don’t think we will be able to attend, the timing just doesn’t work for us. 

There are a few more things we need to do while we are here.  We still need to go through a few more storage areas in the coach to lighten the load.  I want to get Misty to the vet for a checkup and her shots, we need to see our financial advisor and the coach needs a good wash, maybe even a wax job.  And we still have a number of friends we need to contact to catch up on their lives too. 

September can be very nice around here, at least until the fall rains start.  We would like to be on the road before the rains start so if anyone has any inside information, please let us know.   We don’t have a firm time for leaving here yet so will play it by ear. 

But enough of that, I’ll add some pictures and get this posted. 

Rob (you can let your breath out now),  Norma in their new, very nice, 5th wheel. 

Their son, Scott and Daughter-in-law, Gail.

Folks from work, Steve, Dorothy.

 

Micah, Mathue.

Lucas, Cary.

and last but not least, Beau.  We had pictures of others but they didn’t turn out too well, sorry Clay.

 

Quilts at the fair.

 

A display by the Grange.

Some of the draft horses. 

Sunset over Birch Bay. 

 

Barb/Ray, our friends we met when our daughters were in Rainbow years ago. 

Kathy/Larry, we met them in Yuma three years ago.  They happened to be in town.

Sharon and TJ, we stayed on their lot in Yuma for a month two years ago. 

At buffet with Rick and his wife Joy. 

Lorraine, Joy’s mother Gail and Joy.  Thelma/John. 

Thelma/John and Lorraine and me.

At John/Thelma’s next day.  Kerri, Michelle and Joshua.  John and Paul.

Ashley and Thelma.

Carl and Rose. 

Thanks   Chuck