Here we are, on the road: Third week in Blaine, Washington

Saturday afternoon, August Lorraine’s report

Hello from Beachwood in sunny Birch Bay, WA. We moved this week, our time was up at 1000 trails, so we loaded up the rig and moved here on Wednesday morning. Thanks to John, our BIL who signed us in here for two weeks. We appreciate it.

Since last weekend we have been busy again, doing the doctor thing. Sunday we took it easy and rested, did the blog and just vegged out.

Monday, Chuck took me into see my oncology doctor, Dr. Wm Rubin. After catching him up on my health problems for the last year, we proceeded with the current stuff. My blood tests were good. I told him I had come off my one chemo drug, Femara, in June, and he said that since it looked like I was okay with this, okay. There could be consequences for this decision, he said. I told him I couldn’t take anymore back pain, which was a side affect from the pill. Also, a side affect was not being able to go to sleep until 1-2 am, for the past ten years. I now can fall asleep in the car, riding in the coach, and am able to go to bed and fall right asleep instead of tossing and turning until early morning. I think I missed sleeping easily the most.

So now I’m off that nasty drug, I don’t have to see my doctor for a year, and I’ll still need to get a mammogram every year. Yea!!

The last doctor visit we have scheduled is my mammogram, which I will have on the 9^th of September, a year and a day after I had the test last year. The x-ray center called and said I could have the test earlier, but that I would have to pay $430.00 up front for them to do it. Otherwise, insurance would cover it a year and a day after the last test. So I cancelled my earlier test date and took the later one.

Tuesday was cleaning, changing sheets, laundry. We would be moving here to Beachwood, and the chances of getting 50 amps, was pretty remote. As it is, we were happy to find full hookups here. Afterwards, Chuck took us into town and we checked out the price of eyeglasses at different stores. What a big difference in prices among the various stores.

Wednesday was moving day and we were here at Beachwood by 9:30 with the coach, looking for a place to park the rig. All the 50 amp sites were taken. As I said before, we were happy to find a 30 amp with water/sewer.

Following that, I called my hair dresser and got in to have my hair done. My normal gal did it, the same way she normally does, but I don’t like the color she uses. It’s different!

Joy and Rick, friends from Squamish, BC came into Beachwood around 3 pm or so. They found us after they found a spot to set up their fifth wheel. It was great to see them again.

They set up their rig, and while they were setting up, Rob and Norma, who traveled with us to Alaska last summer, got home from getting groceries and shopping. We were happy to see them again.

We all met up at Norma and Rob’s new rig. Of course we were thrilled to tour their rig. When Rob/Norma got back from the Alaska trip, they took their rig to their dealer to have some unresolved work done. While it was in the dealer’s locked lot, a homeless person broke into 15 or so rigs on the lot and totally destroyed those rigs, smashing everything in sight, stealing what he could. He was caught, but not before doing all that damage.

Rob and Norma sure had a time with that old rig, getting it fixed. I’m happy they found a beautiful new rig and are much happier with this unit than the old one.

Norma fed us chicken pasta parmesan for dinner. We all were happy to be back together again and enjoyed each others company.

Thursday found us headed back into town, early to check out eyeglass prices at other stores.

We then had our eye exams with our new eye doctor. We came right home after that, having your eyes dilated and being in the bright sun hurts. We came right home, closed all the shades and took a nap.

Rob/Norma came over to see if we wanted to head up to Northwood Casino for the $3.00 pasta/pizza buffet. We went along and had a great time.

Friday found us headed into town to order our new glasses. Chuck got his ordered from Costco for half the price of mine. Costco didn’t have a frame that felt comfortable on me, so I ordered mine from Sears.

Friday evening was the big Arco annual picnic, of course now it is BP. But on Friday nights, they have hot dogs/hamburgers/ice cream/etc. There is also the chili cook off and the pie judging contest. We were once again pie judges; there were 16 different pies this year to decide on.

It was great to see all of Chuck’s former co-workers and to catch up on their lives. We really had a great time with them all and look forward to seeing them again before we leave. Thank you all.

Today I had more shopping and now I’m writing this so we can do other things tomorrow.

I want to wish my sister, Thelma and her husband, John a very happy 45th Anniversary on Saturday, next weekend. She had just turned 17 a couple of weeks before she got married. She just turned 62 . That is a long time being married, and I would like to wish them the best, they have all our love.

So that was our week. Until next time….Lorraine

8/15/10 Chuck’s report

We had another semi-quiet week once again, starting to like these.

Lorraine had a visit with her Oncologist doctor on Monday, once again all good news. It’s been ten years since her cancer treatment and they classify 5 years as a cure. But she still has to see this doctor every year. Last year he said if we couldn’t make it back to see him to find a different doctor. This year he said if we didn’t make it back in a year to make sure to see him the following year. So, like I said earlier, all good news.

Wednesday we moved from 1000 trails to Beachwood, about five miles down the road. Our brother-in-law is a member of this park and we are able to get in under his membership for two weeks. We have been here before but haven’t seen it as busy as it now. We were able to get full hookups but only with 30 amp electric service; there are probably 50 rigs boondocking without any services so it could be much worse.

Every time we went to town we checked prices and supply for eyeglasses around town. We elected to not purchase vision insurance when we retired so we were looking for good glasses at the best price. Unfortunately, the place we got our glasses for the last 15 or so years couldn’t meet the price of other suppliers in town so he was out of the running early.

We got our eye exams on Thursday and had our eyes dilated as part of the procedure. They gave us those chinsey sunglasses to wear home, not sure how much they helped but we made it with no problems. Once we were back at the coach we closed the blinds and stayed out of the sun until our eyes returned back to normal.

We ordered our glasses on Friday, Lorraine’s from Sears, mine from Costco. They both should be ready in 10 days. Another project marked off our to-do list while we are back here.

Some of our friends from Canada are also here in the park the same time as us. Rob/Norma, who went to Alaska with us last year and Rick/Joy. Rob/Norma’s son, Shaun and Rick/Joy’s daughter,Gail, are married and have two little girls. They arrived last night while we were at Rick/Joy’s coach so we were able to meet them too. It was fun to see the girls get out to see both of their grandmothers and grandfathers. Their children live about 900 miles North in Kitamack, BC so they don’t get to see them as much as they would like.

Thursday Rick/Joy drove Rob/Norma and us to the casino for a $3 buffet. This was a pasta type buffet with pizza, not my favorite but I have to admit it was good. But I also must admit it cost us a bit more than $3 after we were done with the slots.

Friday, after we ordered our glasses, we went to the Annual ARCO employees picnic. Retirees and families are also able to attend. This is a two day affair, Friday is the Chili cook-off, pie judging contest, home brew beer contest and of course, hot dogs and hamburgers. They also bring out their classic cars for a car show. Later they had a couple of movies playing for the kids and live band playing for a few hours.

We got there in time to taste the chili from each of the booths, some were really good, others --- well, lets say they weren’t my type or taste. Everyone gets to vote for the best booth, best salsa and people’s choice chili. They also have judges that vote for their favorite chili but the coveted award is people’s choice. I have been on a couple of chili teams that won that award although I wasn’t the chief cook for either of them.

Lorraine and I were both able to once again be judges for the pie contest. The employees wanting to be in the contest have to bake two pies, one for the silent auction and one for eating at the picnic. This year the judging was done a bit different than normal but we were still able to pick our favorites. I think they gave out 8 top prize ribbons, just like at the county fair.

But the best part of the afternoon was visiting with all the folks I used to work with. There were some of the old timers there too. The plant opened in 1971, I started working there in ‘72 and retired in ‘07 so I’ve worked with lots of people over the years. They told me 2500 people were there last year on Friday, I would guess that many were there this year too. I sure didn’t know or recognize all the people there but I did get to talk to quite a few.

Saturday is the big day with all the kids games and the Bar-B-Q. They cook a whole pig in a pit, buy a cow from one of the employees kids and cook it over an open pit, cook over 40 slabs of salmon along with chicken. And that’s just the meat portion of the meal. They have lots of salads and other stuff to fill out anyone’s plate. All in all, it’s a huge undertaking.

Lorraine and I decided not to go out on Saturday and fight the crowds again. We had a lazy morning, later she picked up her sister and they went to Fred Meyer for a few things. Lorraine said the check out clerk there was one of the most incompetent she’s dealt with in a while, very frustrating. So she was glad to get back and rest for a few minutes before we went over to Rick/Joys place.

Later we returned back to our coach, Lorraine wrote her blog and I read a book. I’m finishing up the blog this morning, will add a few pictures and get it posted.

My old crew is working this weekend and they invited Lorraine and me to come out this morning for late brunch. I’m really looking forward to see all the gang again. But more on that next week.

The weather has been just short of fabulous this week. It has been getting pretty warm during the day (high 80s, low 90s) but it cools off nicely at night (low 60s, high 80s). Sure better than some of the hot temperatures we were in earlier this year back East.

Our plans are for more of the same this week. We both have visits with our new primary doctor to get out of the way. We don’t have to move back to 1000 Trails until the following week but we may move to a different site at this park this morning. Other than that, we will just take what each day gives us.

Happy Anniversary to Lorraine’s sister Thelma and her husband John. They will celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary this coming Saturday. That’s a lot of years together and we hope to be there to wish them well. Here’s wishing you many more years together too.

And now for some pictures, once again mostly friends and family.

Tim with his dog, Lady.